If your parents are struggling with the tasks of daily living, your family may be exploring how an assisted living community could support them to live the best life possible.
There are many benefits of living in a community, including the assistance your parents will receive with bathing, dressing, grooming or managing medications – all that can help them remain independent.
Advantages of assisted living
- Accessible and age-friendly private residence
- Dining options including choice of menu selections
- Opportunities to meet others and make friends
- Monthly calendar of activities and social events
- Fitness, stretching and relaxation exercises
- Scheduled transportation to appointments and outings
- Security and safety features
- Maintenance-free lifestyle
But there is one advantage that may be unexpected by both the residents and their families when a community becomes home – a higher quality of life.
Research suggests that assisted living can improve quality of life because of the social opportunities, participating in more activities and experiencing fewer health conditions. It’s also been noted that quality of life may improve for the family as well, as their roles shift from caregivers and return to spouses, sons and daughters.
Features of a high quality of life
A person’s quality of life is defined by many attributes but there are several similarities that contribute to a meaningful life:
Friendships
- Sense of security and safety
- Physically and cognitively healthy
- Remaining active and engaged
- Strong sense of self-worth
- Healthy diet
- Living an independent life
Why is assisted living and quality of life connected?
As we grow older, life can bring many changes. Some of them are wonderful. We may feel more confident in ourselves and we treasure the free time that is finally ours to spend as we wish. Perhaps we can now pursue hobbies that were long-ago abandoned or explore new passions.
But at times, life changes can present challenges and we discover we now need help. Consider the following more common possibilities that may be experienced:
- Needing assistance with basic daily tasks
- Not having the opportunity to socialize with others
- No longer driving and becoming more isolated or lonely
- Feeling more dependent on others for transportation or errands
- Shopping and preparing healthy meals becoming more difficult
- Not having access to a fitness center or activities
- Feeling less secure and safe at home and neighborhood
- No longer physically able to maintain the home or yard work
How assisted living improves quality of life
When you consider the features that contribute to a high quality of life, take note of how many can be found in an assisted living community. It’s easy to see why assisted living and quality of life are such a good match.
Assisted living feature #1: Opportunities to make new friends
Healthy and strong relationships greatly impact the ability to achieve a high-quality of life. Not only do they add enjoyment to our days, but they can also add years to our lives as strong social interaction has been shown to increase longevity.
Assisted living feature #2: Support to live an independent life
Living in your own private and accessible residence, personalized to make it your own, as well as continuing to make your own decisions about how you will live your life contribute greatly to feeling independent and in control.
Assisted living feature #3: Help with tasks when needed
Not having to rely on family and friends for assistance with basic tasks helps a person feel more independent. Assisted living staff are there 24/7 to give you a hand if you need help with dressing, bathing safely or need other assistance.
Assisted living feature #4: Support to reach wellness goals
Remaining physically and cognitively fit is the basic foundation for living a quality life and the opportunities to exercise, take a relaxation class, build strength or flexibility are all available.
Assisted living feature #5: Several options to remain engaged
Communities have monthly calendars full of different activity choices and social events for their residents to choose from, making it easy to engage with others and feel part of the community.
Assisted living feature #6: Access to healthy dining
Regularly maintaining a balanced diet is another building block for healthy living and aging. Assisted living provides a selection of menu choices and accommodations when needed for special dietary needs.
Assisted living feature #7: Increased sense of security and safety
There is no longer a concern about climbing stairs or making expensive renovations to the home to make it accessible. And residents are reassured and appreciate the security and safety features in the community and their personal residence.
Ingleside’s Senior Living
We hope you found this information on assisted living and its influence on quality of life informative.
We also invite you to visit one of our Ingleside senior living communities if you’re searching for the right place to live a high quality of life, for yourself or your loved ones. We believe you’ll enjoy all the benefits that we offer, including:
- Maintenance-free lifestyle
- Chef-prepared meals in our elegant dining rooms or casual cafés
- Fully equipped fitness centers
- Heated indoor swimming pools
- Art studios
- Libraries
- Beautiful walking trails
For information on Ingleside’s Westminster at Lake Ridge senior living community located in Lake Ridge, Virginia, please call (703) 420-7105 with questions or to schedule a personalized tour today.
For information on Ingleside at King Farm senior living community located in Rockville, Maryland, please call (240) 414-8557 with questions or to schedule a personalized tour today.
For information on Ingleside at Rock Creek senior living community located in Washington, DC, please call (202) 846-2651 with questions or to schedule a personalized tour today.