Understanding Personal Care Assistance in Assisted Living Communities

It's estimated that more than 800,000 older adults reside in assisted living (AHCA/NCAL). If you're considering assisted living for yourself or a loved one, you might be wondering about personal care assistance in these communities and the role it plays.

Elderly care assistance works to keep all residents safe and happy. Specially trained staff members understand the unique needs of seniors and ensure their entire day is taken care of, from personal grooming to nutrition plans based on dietary restrictions and needs.

To learn more about senior living support and what it looks like in assisted living communities, keep reading.

The Role of Personal Care Services and Assistants

Assisted living communities have personal care assistants to help residents with daily tasks. This is crucial because older adults might not be able to perform certain daily functions due to:

• Mental disabilities
• Mobility issues and physical limitations
• Illnesses and other issues related to age

The benefits of personal care are vast; they help residents experience the best quality of life possible. Since every resident is unique, personal care assistants can tailor their services to meet the individual needs of an older adult.

Personal care assistants help seniors with:

• Bathing
• Using the bathroom
• Food prep
• Medication management
• Scheduling appointments
• Feeding
• Nutritional support
• Mobility assistance (being moved from a bed to a chair, for example)

In addition to helping a senior manage their day, personal care assistants offer emotional support, helping elderly adults by spending time with them and helping to combat loneliness and depression.

Seeing as over 2 million adults aged 65 and older experience depression, this service is more important than ever (Mental Health America).

Skills for Senior Living Support

Personal care assistance requires a multitude of skills. Since these trained professionals are working with the elderly, they must be compassionate and patient, among other attributes.

Since older populations face health issues, personal care assistants must be understanding of each resident's feelings and unique needs. They should also be empathetic and lend an ear when a senior in assisted living needs someone to talk to.

It's also imperative for personal care assistants to recognize when an older person is in some type of emotional or physical distress, working to promptly get them the help they need.

Patience is just as important as compassion, as an older person may take longer than expected to complete their daily tasks. Both physical and mental limitations restrict what a senior can reasonably do (and in what time frame), so patience is key.

Personal care assistants also need exceptional communication skills. They should be able to understand what assisted living residents need and how they can make them as comfortable as possible. Should a resident have specific concerns, it should be easily communicated to a personal care assistant.

These assistants also need a certain amount of physical stamina, especially when moving or lifting residents. This might be from a bed to a chair (or vice versa) or elsewhere in an assisted living community. In addition to physical stamina, personal care assistants need mental stamina, being able to think quickly and problem-solve on the spot.

Different Levels of Care

All residents in assisted living are unique and, as such, so is their level of care. There are typically three levels of care, depending on the type of services a resident requires.

The levels are as follows:

• Level One: Basic daily needs
• Level Two: More in-depth care
• Level Three: Continuous daily support

For residents who require Level One care, it's typically a visit first thing in the morning and several daily reminders for medication, different appointments, and any other events. At this level, personal care assistance also helps with basic housekeeping for residents.

If a resident requires more substantial care, they're typically moved up to Level Two personal assistant care. Level Two care is much more hands-on (but not as advanced as Level Three).

Residents who benefit from Level Two care typically need a variation of supervision and hands-on care. It's also common for Level Two care to incorporate various levels of independence for seniors.

The last tier of care is Level Three care. Residents who require this level of care rely on their personal care assistant for almost all their daily needs. This includes personal care, nutrition, and more.

Other Benefits of Personal Care Assistance

Personal care assistants help residents with socializing, helping them to attend a wide array of community activities. They help seniors feel confident with meeting other residents and often facilitate different activities in assisted living communities.

This might include:

• Game nights
• Movie nights
• Local outings
• Exercise and fitness programs
• Cooking classes with customized nutritional support based on dietary needs and restrictions
• Reading and writing groups
• Walks around the community

The role of a personal care assistant is complex but allows residents to engage with one another through a series of engaging activities.

Personal care assistance not only helps residents but also provides peace of mind to their family and friends. They can rest easy knowing their loved ones are expertly cared for in a safe and loving environment that's well-equipped to meet and exceed a senior's needs.

When seniors work with personal care assistants, they're able to enjoy activities that were once challenging. This can positively increase their self-esteem and help to create a sense of independence.

Seniors may even see an increase in improved mental health when working with trained personal care assistants. They'll have more freedom to enjoy the world around them and can navigate the best their assisted living community has to offer.

The Best in Personal Care Assistance

When looking into assisted living communities for friends and loved ones, it's important to understand personal care assistance and its role. Although there are different levels of care required (each considering a senior's unique needs), personal care has countless benefits for older adults.

Lakehouse Escanaba offers the best in assisted living. Our dedicated team of professionals understands the importance of personal care services and provides each resident with the most comprehensive care. Contact us today to discuss senior living options.