By Linda Snyder, Senior Care Advocate, Villas of Holly Brook
No one enjoys getting older, but it’s inevitable. Everyday things may seem like they’re becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible. Your family and friends may be there for you, but you don’t want to become a burden. Should you move to an assisted-living community? Is it right for you? You shouldn’t worry about the stereotype of being “put in a home,” today’s assisted-living homes allow you to be yourself and live as independently as you want to. In fact, privacy and independence is encouraged.
There are numerous things for you to do, you can enjoy dinner with people your own age, play games, watch movies, even dance and get exercise. If you’re still not sure if assisted living is the right move for you, ask yourself the following questions:
Is maintaining a home becoming too much for you?
The daily chores that come with living in your own home can become cumbersome. If you feel like you can no longer keep up with the work of cleaning, cooking, laundry, and shopping for groceries, an assisted-living center can do these tasks for you while you live in a beautiful new apartment.
At home, do you feel lonely?
Living alone, especially if you’re a recent widow or widower, can quickly become depressing and make you feel isolated. It’s important to have an active social life to maintain your happiness and health. A major benefit of a quality assisted-living community is a wide selection of social events and recreational activities.
Are you worried about safety?
There are a lot of potential dangers of living by yourself. You may feel vulnerable at your age, especially if your mobility is limited. If you’re afraid of what could happen if you fell and were stranded in your own home for hours or even days, an assisted-living facility could be right for you. Many communities have safety systems in place so that residents can alert caregivers and staff in case of an emergency.
Are you no longer able to drive?
As people get older, they find that they’re not able to do the things that they were once able to do. Unfortunately, for many seniors, driving is one of those things. If public transportation or other alternative isn’t available, you may feel like you’ve lost a large part of you independence. Something as simple as picking up groceries now becomes a major task. Assisted-living facilities provide transportation to appointments and events, so you won’t have to rely on friends or family that may not always be available.
Do your family and friends have difficulty providing you with care?
No matter how much they care and want to help, family and friends are not professional caregivers. If you’re becoming overwhelmed by the activities of daily living and your family is not able to be there frequently enough, assisted-living may be the right choice.
Your choice of spacious one or two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes or full kitchens are available at the Villas of Holly Brook. They feature a living room, spacious bedrooms with walk-in closets, a private bathroom equipped with walk-in showers and safety grab bars, and individualized climate controls for personal comfort. All utilities are streamlined into the monthly rent, so residents and families need not worry about writing multiple checks each month. Personal laundry and housekeeping services are available weekly, so seniors can enjoy their free time without household chores. Residents can enjoy three meals a day in the dining room and snacks from the café if they have a sweet tooth or desire a cup of cappuccino. Of course, a house is not a home unless the entire family is welcome — it is for that reason that The Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care warmly welcomes not just family visits, but canine and feline companions as well.
As an assisted-living community, the Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care aims to simplify medical care for seniors with persistent needs and conditions. The 24-hour nursing staff provide seniors with medication reminders and the care and assistance residents need so they can enjoy a better quality of life without worries of chores and home maintenance. Each senior has access to a personal call system, for security and peace of mind in unexpected situations.
The Villas of Holly Brook also offers memory care in an attached community. Art therapy and hands-on crafts, such as painting, have proven to be very popular with memory care residents. Music has proven to have a soothing and stimulating effect on patients with memory difficulties as well, so Reflections plays calming music as frequently as possible. As an added level of care for these most delicate of residents, Reflections uses new modalities to help ease and assist seniors with memory care needs, such as lavender aromatherapy, which establishes a calming atmosphere for residents and staff alike. “Reflections Memory Care, a secure Alzheimer’s and dementia specialty care wing, is firmly committed to championing the quality of life for seniors with memory issues,” states Reggie Phillips, President.
Reflections works hard to provide more than just a safe place for memory care residents, they create a place where they can be comforted and feel at home.
Living well is more than simply living quietly in your own apartment. The Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care is designed specifically for the social and active senior. Residents can enjoy company and conversation in the open lobby, take in a classic with friends at the in-house movie theater, or meet up in the café for coffee and chat. The Four Seasons room is an all-purpose activity center, hosting a great variety of activities and entertainment throughout each month plus wide-screen TVs to watch that special sporting event or your soap opera. The on-site beauty salon keeps residents looking handsome and beautiful, while the fitness center keeps them svelte and active with a workout or a trip to the onsite spa. For needs that require an infrequent trip off campus, transportation is readily available for medical visits or simply an excursion for pleasure with their new community friends.
Moving is always a stressful event in one’s life no matter what the situation is. This is especially true if you’re thinking of leaving your home of many years for an assisted-living facility. While it is ultimately up to you and your family to decide, these questions should help you consider if assisted living is the best next step for you.
This is a brief synopsis from a monthly seminar held at the Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care. They offer free seminars each month on senior health and memory care issues. The Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care communities offer a full range of personalized senior living services delivered by compassionate team members who are trained to encourage independence, preserve dignity, enable freedom of choice, and protect the privacy of residents. To learn more about the Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory Care, visit www.villasofhollybrook.com or call 855-20-VILLA (855-208-4552).