National Assisted Living Week

Filling Life With Love

(*Note: This is an old article from 2008 that I lost in a computer crash. I found a copy and am now reposting it.)

While some of the terminology, definitions and perceptions of what assisted living is differ from region to region, the one thing that is a relative constant is the quality of care available. With the unprecedented number of Baby Boomers entering into retirement, options for how and where to spend their Golden Years has become paramount. Another concern is the amount of independence that a retiree can maintain.

The services that Assisted Living may render can be broken down into several types of housing arrangements and levels of care. The first would be Independent Living Communities which are structured along the same lines as modern condominium complexes. With a community comprised of individuals of the same age group, and usually the same variety of interests, Independent Living Communities are a preferential choice for those who have no major health problems that would prevent them from enjoying day to day activities. It is preferable than trying to maintain their own homes, possibly succumbing to depression by being cut off from activities and friends or becoming prey to scams and schemes aimed at the elderly. It has been shown through various studies that a person who maintains their original level of mental and physical activity stays psychologically sharper, less prone to degenerative illnesses and more physically fit.

Assisted Living generally refers to services rendered for persons who have minor problems requiring daily assistance but can maintain a level of independence that does not necessitate the constant care given by a traditional nursing home. Nursing homes exist for those who have numerous health issues or a singular health issue that is either mentally or physically debilitating.
A Continued Care Retirement Community is a blend of everything, from a completely independent retirement community, an assisted care facility and a nursing home. There are several tiers and situations that this type of arrangement can deal with. If there is a couple where one individual is physically and mentally capable of taking care of themselves, but their spouse needs assistance with day to day activities, there is a multi-tiered care that is offered to accommodate both persons. There is also the probability that after years of living in a wholly independent manner, a person will become frailer, have an accident or illness that requires more extensive care. With a Continued Care Retirement Community, all levels of care are available and are usually a tailored fit for each individual resident’s needs.

Beyond the structure or definitions pertaining to Assisted Living, there is one thing that stays constant; the people that provide the care for our elders. From the administrators, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, STNAs and other medical staff to the companions, housekeepers, cooks and maintenance workers, these are the people that have created and maintain a safe, stable and secure environment for their clientèle. These are the people who selflessly care for others who are virtual strangers to them, but that they take on as an extended family. These are the people who we trust with our mother’s, father’s, grandmother’s and grandfather’s care and comfort to. We owe all of these people a major degree of recognition for the job that they perform everyday, usually sight unseen, for the love of those put under their charge.

(This article originally appeared in the September 12, 2008 issue of the Tipp City Independent Voice.)