Moving to assisted living marks a big step in life. Whether you’re helping a parent or planning ahead for yourself, this transition blends emotion, logistics, and new routines. It can feel like both an ending and a beginning.
With the right preparation, moving doesn’t have to be stressful. A clear checklist helps you stay organized, avoid last-minute decisions, and bring familiar touches that ease the adjustment.
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Choosing the right assisted living facility is one of the most important decisions you can make for a loved one. It’s crucial to evaluate every aspect of a community, from staff interactions to safety features, to ensure the best possible care. Our free printable Assisted Living Facility Tour Checklist (PDF Download) is designed to help you stay organized and make an informed decision.
When exploring care options for yourself or a loved one, understanding the distinctions between assisted living and senior care is is important as each option offers varying levels of care, costs, and more.
While both aim to support older adults, they cater to different needs, lifestyles, and levels of independence.
Let’s break down their key differences to help you make an informed decision and find the perfect solution for your family’s needs.
As you or your loved ones age, you may need to consider later-stage life care.
This article will guide you through everything you need to know about assisted living. Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, this guide will help you understand what assisted living entails, its benefits, and its costs.
Keep reading to discover the most important aspects of assisted living and determine if it’s the right choice for your situation.
As our loved ones grow older, finding the right living arrangement becomes essential to help them maintain a fulfilling and comfortable life.
The benefits of assisted living facilities include providing seniors with a supportive environment that offers the perfect balance between independence and care. It’s a place where they can enjoy freedom while receiving the help they need in their daily lives.
We understand that deciding on assisted living is a big step, and it’s natural to feel uncertain.
If you’re wondering whether it’s the right choice, read on to explore how the benefits of assisted living can enhance your loved one’s quality of life and provide your family with peace of mind.
As the senior population in the United States continues to grow, understanding the costs associated with assisted living is more important than ever. The Greater Los Angeles Area, encompassing Los Angeles, Orange County and Riverside County, is a sought-after location for seniors due to its mild climate, cultural attractions, and high-quality healthcare facilities. This article provides a comprehensive, data-driven examination of assisted living costs in this region, helping families make informed decisions about long-term care.
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to managing emotional outbursts and agitation. Many caregivers focus on de-escalating aggression once it occurs, but a more effective approach involves identifying the root cause and addressing it before an episode happens. By recognizing the underlying triggers of agitation, caregivers can create a more supportive and calming environment for their loved ones.
Deciding when to transition into a senior living community is never an easy choice. Many older adults and their families wonder whether it’s best to wait until more advanced care is needed or to make the move earlier while still active and independent. For those considering a board and care home, timing can make a significant difference in long-term comfort, well-being, and peace of mind.
A study in ‘The Gerontologist’ states that, “approximately one-third of 65-year-olds are single.” That’s a 50% increase since 1980 according to the U.S. Census.
Aging with family and friends has been shown to result in improved health of seniors, including lower chances of cognitive impairment, and hospitalization. Research shows that socialization, companionship and hobby-building has great benefits for seniors: older adults who are surrounded by others are at a decreased risk of both cardiovascular and cognitive decline.
For some seniors, moving into an Assisted Living Community is the first step they can take to help maintain or increase the quality of life as they grow older. In reputable communities, experts in the field of long-term care help coordinate between activities to create communities where older adults are able to create new memories with one another. Residents take on scheduled group hobbies such as yoga, cooking, and artistry while pursing passions both new and old. Assisted Living Communities can act as a hub for seniors to connect and make new friends.
Our advice for making friends in a community? Participate and try out all the opportunities that are available. The goal is to foster an natural feeling of community with residents similar in age and circumstances.Dementias are degenerative disorders that develop primarily in the nervous system and selectively damage particular areas of the brain. Some dementias, like Alzheimer’s disease affect all areas of the brain simultaneously, while others, such as frontotemporal dementia, affect the parts of the brain involved in controlling one’s communications and emotions. Still others are caused by vascular disease, brain trauma, or chronic alcohol abuse (Korsakoff’s syndrome)
By 2030, 20% of U.S. population will be older than 65 years of age – about 50 million people. Dementia affects 1% to 6% of those older than 65, and between 10% and 20% of those older than 80 years of age. In the next 30 years, estimated 10-20 million seniors in U.S. will have mild to severe forms of dementia.
Seniors with history of moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) have a 2-3 times greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease – those with a severe TBI have a 4-5 times greater risk. Even healthy seniors are at risk for falls and head trauma, so any fall to the head, however minor, should be seen by a medical professional and documented.
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 65% of all dementias. There is no direct diagnosis of Alzheimer’s – and while PET scans and other imaging techniques are being studied, none have yet been able to show the presence of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s onset often surprises families because vision, movement, and sensation remain untouched while a senior’s memories begin to slowly decrease. Recent memories are affected first, leading to “senior moments” that appear innocent because all other memories, including those from decades ago, remain intact. Eventually those remote memories begin to fade, and lastly the senior’s “crystallized” memories, such as family member’s names and faces, are compromised.
By David L. Raffle, PhD
Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist
www.RaffleBrainInstitute.com