If you're considering the benefits of an assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one, you need to fully understand what assisted living entails and offers. You should be aware of the following five things that you may not know about assisted living facilities:
Some assisted living communities allow residents to bring pets along with them
A lot of patients with chronic health conditions that require everyday assistance are discouraged from moving into assisted living facilities because they want to live with a pet. Fortunately, there are many assisted living facilities out there with pet policies that make it possible to bring along an animal companion.
Finding an assisted living facility that will accept pets is just like finding a rental property that will accept them. You may have to put slightly more effort into the search, but it is possible to find a facility that will welcome both you and your pet.
Assisted living communities are as unique as individual neighborhoods
A lot of people assume that assisted living communities feel drab and monotonous. However, they are all surprisingly unique and feel like individual neighborhoods. That's why it's always a good idea to visit a few different facilities before you choose the right one.
Different assisted living facilities often provide a different combination of services
You don't only want to visit different facilities to get a feel for their individual atmospheres. You also need to do research on the particular services each facility offers.
Some facilities offer more or less service-wise than others. If you need to find an assisted living facility for an individual who is completely bedridden, you'll need to find a facility offering more comprehensive nursing and health care services. Otherwise, you can choose a facility offering lighter care and less involved assistance.
An assisted living facility is not the same thing as a nursing home
A lot of assisted living facilities offer much more independent living than nursing homes offer. Assisted living facilities are offered to patients who may be able to take care of most everyday living tasks on their own but need a small amount of everyday health care assistance due to terminal medical conditions.
There are assisted living communities out there that are specific to certain populations
Some patients feel that they have a particularly strong ethnic or cultural identity and want to live in a community where familiar traditions are recognized and celebrated. These patients will be happy to know that assisted living facilities exist that are unique to certain cultures, religions, diets, and even languages.
Put some research into the search and you're likely to be able to find a community that suits even highly specific demands. Check out a facility like Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living to learn more.
