As our loved ones age and their health begins to decline, we eventually face the tough choice of caring for them at home or moving them to an aged care community. It can indeed be quite hard for older adults to move from a place they’ve known for years, leaving behind countless memories. However, on the other hand, it can be equally challenging to take care of loved ones—with rapidly declining health and chronic health conditions—at home by yourself. But if you’re stuck in the dilemma of choosing between home and aged care communities, you may have to make some tough decisions. After all, your loved one’s health must be prioritized above anything else, and aged care communities are ideal.
However, more importantly, it’s best to understand that today’s boutique aged care communities are more specialized than ever before in making your elderly feel at home. Here are four reasons to consider boutique aged care communities for your loved ones.
Security
Security turns into a greater concern once people grow older, as they tend to become more vulnerable. Criminals can easily cause harm to elderly people, and there may be several people with ill intent towards old individuals, especially when it comes to finances. However, aged care communities are free from such security concerns. Unlike large residential areas, aged care communities are quite small, and everyone is familiar with each other. As a result, security risks are not present, and elderly people can feel much safer. This also leads to an improvement in their quality of life as they are free to explore the community without worrying about security.
But it’s important to keep in mind that not all boutique aged care communities keep security at an ideal level. It’s essential to select the right community for your loved ones, with foolproof security and the right facilities. Otherwise, you may end up compromising their health and lifestyle, leading to several issues. Those living in Sydney will find nursing homes Sydney quite helpful in choosing the right aged care community.
Social support
When it comes to moving your loved ones to nursing homes and aged care communities, one of the biggest concerns is a lack of socialization. After all, isolation can lead to a decline in mental health as humans are social by nature. With no one to talk to and interact with, older adults can begin to feel lonely, leading to depression, stress, and anxiety. However, you should know that aged care communities provide residents with sufficient social support.
Along with your elderly loved ones, several older individuals will be present in the aged care community to interact and socialize with. Senior care communities also arrange several events to encourage socialization among residents. As a result, your loved ones will never feel alone. Additionally, such communities hire specialized staff members to facilitate socialization.
Considering such social support, it’s safe to say that your loved ones might find more people to interact with than they would at home. In fact, you may not have enough to cater to the social needs of your elderly loved ones at home.
Safety
With growing age, safety starts to become a bigger concern. Older individuals encounter difficulty in mobility and are more prone to falls that can lead to dangerous consequences. More than 32,000 deaths occur annually in older adults only due to falls. On the other hand, chronic illnesses are also a concern, as aged people can easily contract life-threatening illnesses due to a declining immune system. What’s worse is that such issues have a greater chance of arising at your home, as homes are not specifically designed to take care of aged people. Therefore, moving to a boutique aged care community is a much more viable option for improved safety.
Aged care communities are equipped with accessories and facilities that can help to assist residents with safe mobility and accessibility. Additionally, the infrastructure in such communities is designed keeping in mind disabled individuals, which further minimizes the chance for safety concerns such as falls. Furthermore, nursing homes hire specialized staff to take care of people with different disabilities and assist them physically in daily life.
Senior citizens that are living in assisted-living facilities are not at prime health. Some have undergone hip replacement surgeries, whereas others have gone for knee replacements. These are things that happen at that age. Individuals that have gone for total knee replacement surgery need to be handled and cared for in a specific way. Experts at assisted living facilities know what they should be doing to ensure proper comfort and care for such senior citizens.
Comfort
Older adults want peace of mind and comfortable living as they grow. As a result, aged care communities are designed keeping comfort in mind. They are built in peaceful and beautiful areas to provide your loved ones with the best quality of life. But more importantly, nursing homes provide a diverse range of facilities to enhance comfort. For instance, residents of aged care communities are provided with delicious and healthy food on a daily basis at the right times.
Exercise facilities equipped with skilled trainers are also available to help maintain physical health and improve comfort. Transport facilities are also provided to allow your loved ones to visit areas such as shopping centers, restaurants, events, and clinics for appointments. Your loved ones may even be able to pursue their hobbies or begin new ones, considering the number of facilities available. As a result, your loved ones will not only live a comfortable life in the aged care community but will also enjoy their time.
Conclusion
It’s never an easy decision to let your loved ones move away from you. However, with growing age, it can become increasingly difficult to cater to older adults’ medical, social, and mental needs.
As a result, it might be a better option to allow nursing homes to take care of your loved ones and provide them with assistance and the right facilities—and today’s boutique aged care communities are ideal to make your loved ones feel at home.
