Aging-in-place and maintaining independence for as long as possible is the goal of most seniors. But what you might not have realized is that there are options where this can occur.
Two of the most common choices are to stay in your own home and bring in helpful services or move into an assisted living community where you’ll have everything you need in one place.
If you’re just beginning your search of possibilities or aren’t clear on what services are available, Ingleside is here to help. Take a moment to read through the possible options and you might find something that is more appealing.
Assisted Living Services
One of the biggest advantages of assisted living is that almost everything you need is available in the community. Beyond your housing, you’ll also find personal care services, 24/7 supervision and assistance, activities, social opportunities, dining services, medication management, housekeeping and even transportation.
If you need help with the activities of daily living, this can be a great answer because it includes bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and transferring from one location to another, such as bed to chair. Some communities also offer dementia care. Each person who moves into assisted living will have a personalized service plan.
Home Care
One of the bigger advantages of staying in your own home is that the care comes to you. Your caregiver helps with the basic activities that support your independence, including bathing, dressing, transferring, grooming, medication reminders and toileting. You should receive an RN assessment to determine the services you’ll need.
Your care may also include homemaking tasks such as shopping assistance, meal preparation, pet care, laundry, linen changes, trash removal and light cleaning. Transportation to medical appointments or bringing in professionals to help with chronic conditions or to recover from an injury or surgery may also be part of your care plan.
What to Look for in Assisted Living
As you begin visiting communities in person, you may want to ask these questions to get a better idea of the services available.
- Are meals included and what are a few examples of the choices? Are special diets accommodated?
- Is there access to the nursing staff 24 hours a day 7 days a week?
- How often are housekeeping services offered?
- What common areas are in the community?
- What amenities are included?
- Is medication administration available?
- Is there transportation that can be scheduled?
- Are physical, occupational and speech therapies available if needed?
- What other personal services are on-site, such as barber or a salon?
What to Look for in Home Care
Those who choose to stay at home and bring needed services in will also want to consider any contributions a partner or spouse living in the home may be able to provide.
A determination of how much help you’ll need will be made whether it’s a few hours a day, a few days a week or permanent in-home care. But regardless of the level of care, one vitally important aspect is the relationship between yourself and the caregiver. Home care also includes companionship and conversations so you’ll want to make sure you enjoy spending time together.
Here are a few questions you’ll want to ask the in-home care providers you’re considering.
- Are background checks conducted on all their caregivers?
- What type of training is required of the caregivers?
- Is there medical training if that is the type of assistance you need?
- What does the service cost and what is included?
- Who handles the payment, taxes and other legal matters of the caregiver?
- What is the availability of staff, including holidays and weekends?
- Is there anything you are expected to provide?
At Ingleside, you’ll find beautiful assisted living communities that offer top-of-the-line assistance, amenities, dining and activities. But for those who would like to remain in their home, we also offer excellent home care services.
Westminster at Lake Ridge’s Assisted Living residences are perfect for those who need a little extra support to live an independent life. We offer spacious suites with private bathrooms and walk-in showers. Not only will you enjoy delicious chef-prepared meals, there are daily programs to keep both your mind and body active and engaged.
Our fitness centers are open 24 hours a day so we’re ready whenever you might be. We also offer heated indoor swimming and Jacuzzi pools, water aerobics, state-of-the-art fitness equipment and outdoor walking trails.
Our programs address the Dimensions of Wellness, taking into account the elements that contribute to a healthy life, which includes:
Social: a network of friends and family and supportive relationships
Emotional: ability to express all feelings and possess self-esteem and sense of humor
Intellectual: engages in lifelong learning and expanding world views
Physical: adopts healthful habits and understands the impact behaviors can have
Spiritual: explores meaning and purpose of human existence
Occupational: draws fulfillment from pursuits while maintaining balance in life
Environmental Wellness: encourages interaction with nature and values the interconnection between nature and the individual.
Ingleside at Home, Westminster at Lake Ridge’s home care option, begins with an in-home assessment with a registered nurse to develop a personalized care plan just for you. Our supportive staff will assist with the activities of daily living, help with homemaking and also provide genuine companionship.
Your care will be provided by our professional and highly trained teams and as part of the Ingleside family of not-for-profit senior care providers, you can rest assured that not only will we provide you with our expert care, we also bring the highest ethical standards.
Our services are unique as they include attribute matching and screening to ensure your caregiver is the right match for you. Not only qualified to provide the services you need, your caregiver will have complementary characteristics to better the chance of a rewarding relationship. We also check back in 2-6 weeks to make sure everything is working as planned.
All of our applicants undergo an extensive background investigation and our caregivers have ongoing training and education. We partner with a satisfaction management company that performs monthly surveys to determine how successful the match is.
Westminster at Lake Ridge
Aging well is the focus of all the services we offer, regardless of where they’re received. Please take a moment to review our community and home care services to see if either might be the right answer for you. Please Call (703) 794-4631 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a personalized tour today.