Choosing the right assisted living or memory care facility can feel stressful, but it can be even more challenging when you encounter terms that may not be part of your everyday vocabulary. Senior living facilities are unique places with unique benefits, so it’s no surprise that you aren’t aware of all the details without researching. To help you better understand your options, we are defining and clarifying some of the assisted living terms and phrases you will likely hear when exploring senior living and memory care facilities.
Here Are Some Assisted Living Terms You Need To Know
Assisted Living: A residential option for seniors needing help with daily activities but not requiring intensive, all-hands-on-deck medical care, often provided in a nursing home. Assisted living facilities offer assistance with tasks like dressing, bathing, and medication management while providing social activities and a community environment. Assisted living is precisely what it sounds like – a way for seniors to get assistance during their routine based on their unique needs.
Memory Care: A specialized form of long-term care tailored to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other memory-related conditions. Memory care facilities offer a secure, welcoming environment with staff trained to identify and address the challenges associated with cognitive decline.
Amenities: Any of the additional features and services living facilities provide to help residents live their lives and succeed despite health conditions. Amenities can be fun bonuses or essential services that significantly streamline residents’ lines. Typically, the best facilities offer fitness centers, onsite dining, social activities, transportation services, and housekeeping.
Dementia: An umbrella term for cognitive issues affecting memory, speech, and the ability to live independently. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type, but others exist, as well. Even if the senior in your life doesn’t have Alzheimer’s specifically, they can benefit from the added care provided by a memory care facility.
Socialization Opportunities: Socialization is vital to maintaining mental and emotional well-being, and assisted living facilities offer group outings, game nights, and classes to foster a sense of community. Many seniors suffer from depression and anxiety when cooped up at home. But when they stay in a community, they have ample opportunities to make new relationships. Socialization is, quite possibly, the most tangible benefit of assisted communal living.
Personalized Care: Every resident is different and requires a different level of care and attention. When you live in an assisted living or memory care facility, you aren’t pigeonholed into one specific care plan. Instead, your care evolves with you as your health and assistance needs change over time.
Caregiver: A caregiver is simply anyone, such as a paid assistant or family member, who provides care and support to a senior or person with disabilities. In assisted living and memory care facilities, caregivers help residents start their day on the right foot and continue with daily task assistance based on their personal care plans.
Aging in Place: The concept of allowing residents of facilities to remain in the same community as long as they want, even if their care needs change. At A Banyan Residence, residents whose needs expand to require memory care services don’t need to uproot their entire lives. Instead, they can remain onsite and continue receiving help from the staff and caregivers they know and trust.
Wandering: People with dementia and memory issues sometimes become confused and wander off, a dangerous act for those who don’t thrive in unfamiliar areas. Safety measures implemented in memory care facilities protect residents prone to wandering or sundowning through the use of secure entrances, alarmed doors, and specially designed outdoor areas.
If you have more questions, we are here to help. Contact A Banyan Residence today to schedule a tour of our facility and learn more about assisted living terms and benefits you are curious about.
