Sometimes, the best place for seniors to spend their retirement years is at a residential assisted living facility, which offers a secure environment and ready access to medical care. Older adults’ families can rest easy knowing their loved ones are being given good care. Seniors can also rest better knowing they have a communal family helping them get the most out of every day.
Why Is Transitioning to Assisted Living Beneficial to Senior Health?
Deciding to move a loved one to an assisted living facility can be daunting, overwhelming, and very tough. The person will have to go through years of accumulated possessions, bid farewell to their home, and mark the end of an era. However, it’s also the dawn of an exciting new journey, with new friendships and adventures waiting for them every day.
Finding the proper assisted living center or nursing facility takes time, and the senior must be prepared to relocate when the moment is right. The following are some of the advantages and benefits of residential assisted living services for seniors:
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Healthy Meals
Seniors living alone and cooking for themselves is often a difficult task. It can be tough for them to even go to the grocery store, let alone prepare meals. Assisted living homes take that responsibility for aging adults. To encourage senior residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle, assisted living facilities offer a comprehensive meal menu that accommodates all dietary requirements. They cater to a wide range of dietary needs, from vegans to diabetics.
Most facilities feature common dining rooms where they provide snacks and meals each day. The dining room also serves as a gathering spot for residents to connect and hold get-togethers like book club meetings. Often, friends and family are allowed to visit and dine with their loved ones.
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Safety and Security
Seniors who wish to stay alone in an old house often worry about their security. For older adults, many daily activities can become safety problems. However, moving to an assisted living facility is an ideal choice for a senior’s well-being. Assisted living communities will protect your loved one’s security and safety by offering:
- 24 hour supervision
- Visiting physicians
- On-call nursing services
- Locked doors and windows at night
- Household maintenance personnel
- Each room features easy-to-use emergency buttons
- Mobility devices, including handlebars for bathrooms and walkers
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Additional Discretionary Time
Although many seniors are still able, they deserve to take a break from cooking, cleaning, gardening, and other household chores. These older adults don’t have to think about those tasks at a residential assisted living facility. It is also a feasible option for seniors who have difficulty with daily tasks or whose inability to do them poses a danger to their health.
Assisted living facilities are an excellent place to live. Seniors do not have to deal with the chores of daily life, such as cleaning the bathroom, shoveling the walk, doing laundry, and so on. For staff members, it’s a privilege to serve seniors, helping them with daily activities like dressing and taking medications, but also things like completing their reading lists, arranging visits with family, discovering new interests, or building new friendships. It truly can be like living with family members.
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Social Events and Involvement
Senior living solutions do not have to be boring. Social interaction helps avoid loneliness and depression and enhances an aging adult’s quality of life. Assisted living communities offer a wide range of activities that keep seniors active and engaged. If you’re looking for a place with activities that reflect your loved one’s interests, health concerns, and wellbeing while fostering long-term connections, look no further than a senior living community. Not only do they offer excellent care, assisted living facilities also bring people together and create strong bonds.
Seniors living without friends or company are prone to social isolation, loneliness, and depression. However, seniors in assisted living will live in a community with peers and staff members that encourage socialization in group activities and events. Assisted living communities to provide members the chance to try new hobbies, attend group exercise classes, form clubs, watch movies together, eat meals together, and so much more.
The seniors will soon make new friends, know employees by name, and feel part of the overall community. Relocating to a residential assisted living sooner can assist seniors in avoiding loneliness while improving their physical and mental health.
Caring and Expert Assistance Available 24 Hours a Day, Seven Days a Week
Assisted living residents often require assistance with tasks such as clothing, bathing, hygiene, mobility, medication management, and more. Assisted facilities train every employee to offer care that values residents’ privacy and dignity. The seniors’ needs are addressed and receive the attention and respect they deserve.
Care services are of great convenience and help seniors thrive. Caregivers encourage independence in any possible way, such as enabling seniors to pick their outfits for the day or taking care of their own personal hygiene.
Better Quality Life
Moving into assisted living encourages a healthy senior lifestyle and provides access to both physical and emotional support. Each resident has a personalized, custom care pathway examined by medical staff, guaranteeing early diagnosis and better treatment alternatives.
What Is the Average Cost of Assisted Living – Indiana?
The average monthly cost of assisted living in Indiana ranges between $3,400 and $5,200. The Indianapolis and Lafayette regions have the highest costs, while Fort Wayne has the lowest.
The state median cost of assisted living is cheaper than the median cost of the majority of other categories of long-term care, excluding independent living, which does not include all of the services offered by assisted living. It is much less expensive than nursing home care and slightly cheaper than in-home care.
Are Assisted Living Facilities Licensed in Indiana?
Assisted living facilities in Indiana must abide by state rules and regulations. Every Indiana community that uses the term “assisted living” must register as a Housing with Services Establishment with the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Aging. It is a requirement of state law (IC 12-10-15-3).
Contracts with residents are prohibited for entities that fit the description of a Housing Plus Services Establishment but still haven’t registered with the FSSA Division of Aging. Based on the services offered, these communities may also need to be certified as Residential Care Facilities by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).
Who Regulates Assisted Living in Indiana?
The state-level handles questions concerning licenses and regulations of Indiana assisted living facilities. Indiana has laws and regulations that assisted living communities must comply with or be shut down. The programs contribute to senior communities remaining healthy and safe settings for aging adults to reside.
When choosing an assisted living community, educating yourself on the state’s rules is a great idea to verify that the facility you pick is fully compliant. To get in touch with the state’s licensing and regulating department, you can dial 317-233-7442: Indiana State Department of Health, Division of Long Term Care (ISDH).
Do you have a problem with senior living facilities in Indiana and need to file a complaint? Resolving disputes and making long-term care decisions are also tasks that an Indiana long-term Care Ombudsman may assist with. You may reach Free Assisted Living Resources in Indiana at Division of Aging – Local: (317) 232-7134 Toll-free: 1-800-622-4484.
What Are the Requirements for Assisted Living in Indiana?
Individuals enrolled in an assisted living facility should meet the following criteria:
- Reside in Indiana
- Be mentally sound
- Be functional and capable of doing at least three daily living tasks independently, such as toileting, eating, and moving
Additionally, persons considering assisted living facilities cannot:
- Pose an imminent threat to oneself or others
- Require extensive, professional nursing care 24 hours a day
- Require any form of rehabilitation therapy
Who Qualifies for a Medicaid Waiver?
Every state has a waiver program for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). However, because states design HCBS programs to serve certain local populations with distinct needs, qualification for HCBS programs varies by state.
Most states have many HCBS programs, each serving a distinct portion of the population and providing differing degrees of support. In general, states provide waivers for HCBS to the elderly (65 years or older), physically challenged individuals, children and adults with developmental impairments, and medically fragile individuals. Certain states additionally provide HCBS services to those diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, HIV/AIDS, or autism.
How Do I Get a Medicaid Waiver in Indiana?
Although a Medicaid waiver is accessible across the state, you are not entitled to it. There may be a waitlist in place for those who want to participate. You will find a lot more information here. You can contact the Division of Aging at 1-888-673-0002 or call your local Indiana Area Agency on Aging for further application for the Aged and Disabled waiver. The first step of the application process will be a phone interview with an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) representative.
Two Hearts Home for Seniors
When looking for a residential assisted living facility, seniors with specific disabilities or illnesses face obstacles. We’re glad to help you with any inquiries you may have. If you or your close loved one needs assistance, contact our elder care advocates or check out our website for detailed information and guidance. Two Hearts Home for Seniors aims to create an environment for our residents that feels like they are living at home with family members. We strive to provide the best care and want to help our seniors live their lives to the fullest. Reach out to us at 219 600-2200 for more information or to schedule a tour!
