The Different Levels Of Care In Assisted Living Facilities
Choosing the right assisted living community can make a very big change in the life of a senior. In the opinion of many seniors, moving to a senior living facility offers new opportunities to master new skills, make meaningful friendships, and get the help they need while remaining as independent as possible. High-quality dining, regular activities, and easy access to help should figure prominently in the decision. However, it is also very much important to ensure that the senior living community can meet the care needs of the seniors, especially if these needs may change with time.
Many assisted living communities identify the needs of a senior depending on ADLs. ADLs are the daily tasks with which a person may need help. The more assistance a senior needs, the higher will be the level of care needed. Shared below are some of the important activities of daily living and the care needs linked with them.
Dressing
Dressing can be a difficult task even for otherwise independent seniors. Hooks and buttons can be a nightmare for some seniors while cloth selection can be challenging for many others. A senior who can dress independently will need less care when compared to a person who needs help from a caregiver for dressing and undressing.
Bathing
Bathing is an important activity of daily living and can be the root cause of many hygiene problems. Seniors who are capable of showering without assistance are at a lower level of care when compared to a senior resident who needs the help of a caregiver while bathing. In addition, if a senior prefers to shower more than one or two times a week, then the level of care can increase.
Toileting
Toileting includes not only transferring to and from the toilet but also includes any continence or hygiene needs of the senior person. Residents who can manage it independently will need less level of care when compared to seniors who need more assistance with toileting.
Ambulation
Ambulation is getting from one place to another and it can be in different forms. Some of the senior residents will be able to walk without any support while some others may use a walker, cane, scooter, etc. The required levels of care will not increase if a mobility aid like a wheelchair or walker is used, instead, it is determined by the level of assistance required by the resident from the staff of the senior living facility.