Moving to a senior assisted living community offers California’s older adults impressive benefits. These include safety, social opportunities, freedom from home upkeep, and access to medical care. Residents also benefit from therapies that can improve their well-being and compensate for declining health. Therapy is especially crucial for those with dementia or chronic physical issues. With that in mind, seniors or their families should ensure that any community they consider offers access to various therapies. Physical, occupational, language and respiratory therapies are especially helpful and can improve residents’ quality of life.
Communities Are Better with Therapy
Although residents’ lives typically improve when they move into an assisted living community, the change can be difficult for some. Therapists can help ease the transition from independent to community living. They work closely with residents and can identify causes for specific behaviors.
Seniors feel more involved and included when they feel independent and can join others in social activities. When they have difficulties with activities of daily living or cannot manage their housekeeping, they can get upset. Therapists will identify these issues and develop strategies to help residents overcome challenges.
Professionals may help seniors improve their balance, conquer speech problems, or become more steady on their feet. Therapists measure progress and communicate with community staff members.
Therapy Is Part of Dementia Care
Many seniors who move to assisted living homes are in excellent health and need little help. However, even the most vigorous can develop physical or cognitive decline as they age. Therapy can help identify these changes in the earliest stages and ensure that residents get the help they need.
Therapies can compensate for abilities that residents lose and address behavioral changes that go with decline. Per HTS therapy specialists, Alzheimer’s and dementia are becoming more common and can lead to personality changes.
Therapists understand how difficult it can be to deal with limitations and will help seniors transition from independence to accepting help. These professionals help clients overcome barriers and fears and adapt to changing realities.
Communities such as Sundial Assisted Living offer occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) groups. Doctors can prescribe OT/PT when seniors’ environments change.
Therapy Encourages Wellness
There are currently over one million U.S. citizens in senior living communities, and it’s estimated that 81% need therapy to complete at least one activity of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). ADLs involve necessary tasks such as feeding, walking, grooming, and self-care, while IADLS include functions like housekeeping, managing finances, and cooking.
More senior communities are offering therapies to assist residents with these needs, a step that increases overall resident satisfaction. Communities providing treatments that help with essential functions are a healthier, more viable option for seniors.
Occupational Therapy
According to The American Occupational Therapy Association, when community residents have access to OT, they are more likely to remain independent and maximize their abilities. Therapists create a goal and strategy for each individual in concert with their doctor’s orders.
OT can help restore function, promote health, and compensate for diminished skills. In addition to improving residents’ abilities to handle ADLs and IADLS, treatments help ensure they can participate in leisure, volunteer, and activities.
Physical Therapy
PT is used to help those who have been injured or are in pain. It is a treatment that makes it easier for people to get back on their feet and return to normal functioning. As a result, PT is incredibly beneficial for older adults.
Senior living communities typically provide respite care for family members taking care of older relatives. Still, even these interludes may not be enough for seniors with mobility issues and chronic pain. One of the benefits of transitioning to a senior community is the availability of physical therapists who can assist residents regain strength and mobility.
Language Therapy
Residents of a senior living community may need speech or language therapy for various reasons. A doctor typically prescribes treatments, and a speech therapist coordinates treatments with them.
Therapists not only work with speech and language issues but any mouth-related concerns. They can help those who have problems swallowing or chewing. Therapy helps seniors with dementia, which often impacts language and speech. Language and speech experts also help clients with cognitive deficits and judgment issues related to stroke or dementia.
Respiratory Therapy
Older adults are more likely to develop breathing problems since their colds can quickly become pneumonia. Respiratory therapists help seniors recover and improve their breathing. Therapists use tapping and massage to loosen mucus and improve breathing.
When California families are searching for senior communities, they should consider only those that provide easy access to therapies. Physical, occupational, language, and respiratory therapies can be vital to senior well-being.
Sundial Assisted Living is a community offering residents a vibrant lifestyle and a full menu of amenities and services. These include access to any needed therapies. Community staff members tailor services to residents’ needs to provide the best possible quality of life.