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What is Assisted Living – Services, Benefits & Daily Life

If you find yourself reading this blog, the word assisted living could mean a variety of things to you.

• Maybe during mom’s last trip to the doctor their primary care physician mentioned it might be time to consider assisted living.
• A friend of yours recently moved their dad into an assisted living community and has talked to you about how the transition was a little difficult, but they’re starting to experience the benefits.
• Your sister called and said they think it’s time to talk with mom and dad about moving to assisted living and they need everyone on board before they have the conversation. (Check out our how to have the talk blog for tips on this specific subject.)

You suddenly find yourself sitting in front of your computer or phone and typing in the words, Assisted Living.

Your search results might vary from the 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities near you to The Benefits of Assisted Living vs. Home Care or a list of resources and communities that you can explore. It’s all a little overwhelming and a difficult place to start.

We want to break things down and make them as simple as possible.

In this blog we will dive into what assisted living is and cover services, amenities, benefits and what a typical day looks like.

This may not answer every assisted living question you have but will be a great place to start your assisted living journey. We encourage you to check out our other blogs to learn more about a variety of assisted living and memory care topics.

What is Assisted Living – Services and Amenities

Assisted living is one option available when it comes to senior living. Assisted living residents benefit from assistance and care to continue living as independently as possible. It is a great option for someone who is fairly independent but may need a little help with basic daily tasks.

The most common care that assisted living residents benefit from is with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These include feeding, ambulating, dressing, personal hygiene, continence, and toileting. The level of care provided looks different for each individual resident and what their specific needs might be. Before moving in a Resident Care Director will work with the resident and family to come up with a care plan that is designed to ensure the new resident will be successful in the community. The amount or level of care a resident receives will vary depending on the state and senior living community. At Northbridge assisted living residents in Maine and Massachusetts receive up to 45 minutes a day of personal care included in the monthly rate. In New Hampshire assisted living residents receive up to 30 minutes a day of personal care included in the monthly rate. The specific care that you or your loved one will receive is discussed during the care plan meetings and can be adjusted at any time on an as needed basis. One of the biggest benefits of assisted living when it comes to care is access to a care team 24/7 for whenever a need may arise.

In addition to personal care services, Northbridge has a partnership with FOX Rehabilitation that allows residents to benefit from Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy services from the comfort of their apartment/community. Check out our blogs about the benefits of Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy in assisted living!

Assisted living residents are able to choose from a variety of apartment styles when moving into a community. Most assisted living communities offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment types. Some communities will also offer companion apartments for those looking to take advantage of community living at a more affordable price. The variety of apartment styles allow residents to create home in a more manageable size.

Benefits of each apartment style:

Studio- so much of life within an assisted living community happens outside of your apartment. A studio apartment is a great option for someone who is looking to take advantage of all the services and amenities of community living and knows that their apartment will only be a place to rest their head.

One Bedroom- this apartment is great for those tired of taking care of a large family home and are looking to downsize to a more manageable lifestyle.

Two Bedroom- this option is good for one person or a couple who would benefit from a little more space but still enjoy all the conveniences of community living.

The monthly apartment rate is inclusive of: 3 meals daily, scheduled transportation, weekly housekeeping, weekly linen service, all utilities (excluding phone and cable), access to all community features, amenities and social programs.

Programming/Engagement: at Northbridge we plan our monthly calendars around 4 pillars of engagement- To Learn, To Feel, To Connect and To Move. Programs include- daily exercise classes, live music performances, art classes, cooking demos, trips to museums and throughout the local community, and much more! Check out a typical programming calendar from our community, Stroudwater Lodge. Our engagement teams tailor programs based on resident interests. This means that from month to month the calendars change as new programs are added, although a few resident favorites will be featured each month.

Culinary: assisted living residents benefit from 3 meals each day. At Northbridge we have an Eat Fresh, Eat Local signature program where our culinary team’s partner with local farms, growers and vendors to ensure that our residents benefit from the local flavors of New England all year round.

A Day in the Life – Assisted Living

• Morning – after waking in up your apartment, decorated and furnished with personal pieces to make your apartment home, you will get dressed and ready for the day. Depending on what your care needs are, morning could be a time when one of our helpful resident care associates comes in to help with ADLs (bathing, grooming or dressing). You then head down to enjoy breakfast in the dining room with friends. On your way to the dining room, you stop by to say hello to the person at the front desk (the front desk receptionist knows everything and everyone) and check out what’s happening throughout the day on the programming calendar. After finishing breakfast, you head to morning exercise class – Barre Balance is a favorite at Northbridge, and we’ve recently certified our programming teams in Tai Chi!
• Afternoon – after exercise maybe you head outside to sit by the front entrance (weather permitting), attend a late morning brain game program, or go back up to your apartment for a little bit to relax before lunch. You head back down to the community dining room to join your friends for lunch and enjoy the fresh and local seasonal flavors that New Englanders love! After lunch you go to an art class where you’ve started to discover, or rediscover, your love of painting – you’d be surprised how many residents find a new talent once they move into a community! After the art class you decide to take a walk outside and wave as you pass friends and other residents enjoying time outside or on a walk themselves. Coming back into the community you hear the ending of the live music program happening and listen to the last few songs. There are multiple opportunities during these times where assisted living residents may benefit from personal care or meet with FOX Rehabilitation for therapy services. Having these services available in the community means not having to adjust your daily schedule to find time to go back and forth for appointments.
• Night – After listening to those last few songs of live music you head back to the dining room for dinner. After dinner you stop to check your mailbox and then pop by the front desk again to say hi to the evening receptionist before deciding if you want to head to the movie that’s playing, or back to the comfort of your apartment for the night. For those who need assistance showering or getting ready for bed, this might be the time that someone from our wellness teams comes in to provide personal care. Before going to bed, you might call your children to catch up with them and invite them to the next community event or just to come for lunch or dinner with you.

As you begin your journey into the world of assisted living and senior care, we hope this serves as a good introduction of what to expect on a basic level. Everyone’s journey with finding the right assisted living community and creating the best care plan to ensure success once becoming a resident will look different. The best part about assisted living, especially today, is that it can be customized to fit the needs of the resident and family. There is an understanding, now more than ever, that every resident that moves in brings with them a unique set of needs, wants and interests and it’s our job to fulfill each of them.

All our communities have teams of directors who are happy to help and talk with you about the benefits of assisted living, but sometimes it’s better to hear from someone you can relate to, like a current family member. In our blog, 4 Topics to Consider when Choosing a Senior Living Community, we talked with current Northbridge family members who share their experience and advice while choosing a senior living community. We encourage you to read the blog to get a firsthand account of what to expect and what to look for as you begin your search.

Here are some quick FAQ’s about Assisted Living:

Support for maintaining an independent life.

Because loved ones may need assistance does not mean they should have to sacrifice their independence for the help. Assisted living communities actually help your loved ones feel more in control over their lives. Most parents regret having to rely so heavily on their children for help. In a community, they receive any assistance they need and can now spend their time with family and friends enjoying each other’s company.

Support for creating an age-friendly home.

Most existing houses were not built with aging in mind. Your parents may be navigating steps, as well as unsafe bathrooms and kitchen cabinets that are out of reach or require a step ladder. Assisted living residences are designed to be age-friendly. Accessibility is standard and your loved ones will no longer need to worry about climbing stairs or other unsafe features.

Support for realizing a desired lifestyle.

Your loved ones may have been missing out on living the kind of life they desire. Have they been able to participate in enjoyable activities or do they no longer have a strong social life? An assisted living community not only provides a monthly calendar of activities but many planned social events to encourage residents to interact and get to know each other.

Support for setting and meeting wellness goals.

Your parents know how important it is to remain physically and cognitively in shape but that may have become more difficult for them to accomplish. When living at home, it can be a challenge to get to a gym or find classes that are tailored to their needs and preferences. If they decide to move to an assisted living community, meeting their wellness goals will instantly become easier. Most communities offer on-site fitness centers or classes and instruction.

Support for making lifelong friendships.

A sad reality of life is that we often lose family members and friends as we grow older. It can also become much more of a challenge to meet new people, especially if mobility is an issue or we don’t have transportation options. Assisted living communities make it simple and natural to meet the other residents at the many activities and social events. Sharing a meal or crossing paths in the common areas provides opportunities for conversations and getting to know how much they all have in common.

Support for maintaining a healthy diet.

Fueling bodies and minds with the right nutrients is essential but so too is preparing food that is also appealing and delicious. Eating healthy can become more of a challenge and your loved ones may be substituting snacks or even skipping meals. They will love the many choices provided at an assisted living community, including healthy selections that also appeal to their palates.

Support for reassurance and security.

If your parents have become more anxious about their safety and security, you may have wondered how to help. An assisted living community is designed to do just that. Your loved ones will appreciate the added safety features in both their residence and community as well as know that while they are supported to enjoy their privacy, they are never truly alone if help is ever needed.

Support for the family.

Family members also need support as they help their loved ones adapt to the transition of moving into senior living. There is an adjustment period for the families as well. An assisted living community is well trained and aware of how to support their residents’ families and help them continue to be active and engaged in the lives of their loved ones.

We’re here to answer any of your questions, please contact us if we can provide further information or if you would like to schedule a personalized tour.