None of us want to get to the point in life where we can’t take care of ourselves but the reality is that we as Americans are living longer and will need some help as we age. Story by Katherine Bolster of Fox Hollow Independent and Assisted Living
As a loved one gets older, family members, friends and neighbors begin dropping by to check on him or her to see if help is needed. A family member may even move in, but over time that arrangement stops being a good one for either party.
The at-risk family member is accustomed to freedom; the caregiving family member has a life of their own that needs attention. The family starts talking about care options, but none of them seem appealing at first. As time passes, the elderly relative needs more and more attention, and while the care isn’t constant, it is consistent day after day.
They may need help toileting, dressing, grooming and getting into and out of the shower/bath tub safely. Also cooking, cleaning house and doing laundry are becoming more difficult. Something needs to be done before a fall or accident happens. The answer may be assisted living. Assisted living communities provide a step between fully independent living and skilled nursing or adult foster homes. It is for people who value their independence, yet need some help with life’s daily chores and personal care.
About one in every 300 Americans live in an assisted living community. Assisted living care is out there to help the seniors who want to maintain personal independence and self reliance yet need some help with dressing, bathing or taking their medications properly. Assisted living communities are designed to help residents with the daily challenges of living that many of us take for granted such as reading small medication labels, preparing and eating meals (sometimes opening a jar can seem impossible) and keeping up with housekeeping and laundry. Assisted living communities also provide a safe atmosphere for loved ones who are experiencing some forgetfulness and may need daily reminders to do personal care or to remember doctor appointments.
The “look” of assisted living has many faces. There is no universal plan that all communities follow. There could be on-site beauty salons, bank services and theatre rooms, or not. The common feature of all assisted living communities are the caregiving options such as laundry service, meal preparation and assistance, dressing help, bathing help, grooming help, medication help, social and recreational planning to name a few. We are blessed in Central Oregon to have quite a few care options for our aging loved ones to consider and I encourage you to check them out as all communities have a different feel and undoubtedly, one will feel right to you and make a perfect new home.
www.foxhollowbend.com, 2599 NE Studio Road Bend, 541-383-2030.
