Among the living options available to aging seniors are assisted living homes, such as we provide at Seasons at Laguna. Assisted living homes are a step up from assisted living facilities in terms of the care provided. So what’s the difference between the two? And who benefits more from which?
About Assisted Living Homes
Assisted living homes are designed to provide many of the amenities of living at home while accommodating an increasing need for assistance with Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs.
ADLs are activities an individual typically performs to get ready for his or her day. By creating a checklist of ADLs, health care professionals can assess what level of care an elderly individual requires. The more ADLs a person can accomplish on their own, the more likely they are to be able to live independently; the fewer, the more care they require.
ADLs are broken into two groups: instrumental and basic. Instrumental ADLs include caring for a pet and managing money—complex functions that require a degree of mental and physical ability. Basic ADLs are more elemental, and include bathing, using the toilet, dressing, and eating, among other activities. The services provided by Seasons at Laguna are designed primarily to help seniors who need help with basic ADLs.
While an assisted living home may encourage its residents to function as independently as they feel comfortable, it’s their goal to help seniors get the care they need to age with a sense of dignity and live life to the fullest extent possible. Assisted living homes can also provide a great deal of peace-of-mind to loved ones who know their aging friend or relative needs more care than they can provide.
Environment
Although residents receive a great deal of attention and hands-on care from staff, an assisted living home remains just that—a home. Unlike the institutional atmosphere of a large assisted living facility or a nursing home, assisted living home residents can do as they please within the limits of their circumstances. For example, they:
- Have their own room
- Choose their activities
- Live and socialize with others
- Have access to appropriate amenities
- May see visitors when they please
A good assisted living home will combine the warmth and comfort of home with the care and security needed as we age.
Making a Choice
Deciding to move yourself or a loved one to an assisted living home is not easy. The admission that you can no longer live on your own can be emotionally challenging. However, getting the care that’s needed is going to improve the rest of that senior’s life immensely. Be sure you do your research before settling on a facility.
While there are several assisted living home facilities in the Southern California area, none compare to Seasons at Laguna. From beautiful homes to our highly-trained, compassionate staff, we can promise an experience unmatched in our area.
Contact Us
If you’d like to know more about Seasons at Laguna, we’d welcome the chance to answer your questions or schedule a tour. Either fill out the form on our Contact page or call us directly at 800.340.9704. We look forward to hearing from you.