Although there may be times when an aging parent or other loved one may be unable to make the choice for themselves, most often you will simply be a part of the decision-making process when considering residential lifestyle options. This is often the case when your loved one has survived a spouse who has preceded them in death, and now they want someone to help them decide what is best for them. If you are in any way interested in the choices your loved one has before them, you might want to know a little more about the difference between independent and assisted living residences.
Levels of Care
Perhaps the place to start would be to look at one assisted living community in New Jersey, just as a point of reference. When seeking to discover the difference between the two residential options, take a closer look at Brandywine assisted living Haddonfield residences to see if some amount of care is needed for daily living. These types of services might include a few household chores, assistance getting dressed or even help carrying groceries in after shopping.
The difference between assisted living and independent living is simply a level of care not needed when choosing an independent living residence. Emergency care and assistance are still available upon request, but independent living implies fewer needs than assisted living.
Availability of Progressive Levels of Care
Another aspect to consider would be if there are options to raise levels of care over time. For example, when moving into an independent living residence does that mean that your loved one will not be able to receive higher levels of care unless they move into another apartment? Are the residences specific to buildings or does care follow the resident and not the residence?
These are things you will want to know because greater assistance may very well be needed at some future point when Rapidly Progressive Dementias are concerned. If it will mean moving to a new unit, it might be best to go into that level from the very start. If there is one thing seniors need at any level of care, it would be consistency. Having a place where they can live safely and comfortably can often offset the worries of progressive dementia.
Sometimes More Really Is Better
We have all been told throughout our lives that more isn’t necessarily better. However, when it comes to levels of care we offer our seniors, more usually is better. If there is any question whatsoever of your loved one eventually needing greater levels of care than they now need, it might be best to opt for that residential living option now.
Not only will the transition to greater levels of care remain almost unnoticeable, but if seniors need to be uprooted once again to move to another facility or unit, the stress could be their undoing. They’ve already moved once from their family home to residential living so why force them to move yet again just to get greater levels of long-term care? In the end, it is better to think of the long-term goals for a smoother and happier transition to residential living for seniors.
Also Read: Supporting Seniors To Independent Lives For Longer
