Page 17 - Mid Valley Times 2-3-22 E-Edition

Thursday, February 3, 2022 | A17 | Mid Valley TiMes
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The Assisted Living Option
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By Ro LinscheiD
In my job I get to meet many people who are looking for
a way to retain free- dom and indepen- dence but are not able to function well on their own any longer. Some need help with taking their medica- tion properly; others need assistance with bathing and dressing. Nutrition becomes an issue when cooking becomes a difficult chore. Most of these people do not need the hands-on-care of skilled nursing homes but are not doing well living on their own.
For people strug- gling to live on their own,thechoices
used to be to move
in with their children or go live in a nurs- ing home. In the mid 1970’s a 60 year old resident of a skilled nursing home asked her daughter to do something to help people like herself. That daughter, Dr. Keren Brown Wilson is credited with devel- oping the first assisted living model.
Dr. Brown looked at the way people were cared for in nursing homes and formed the idea of the three Hs: Health, Hous- ing and Hospitality. Her goal was to move away from commu- nal showers, shared bathrooms and doors that do not lock. She wanted to provide
the residents daily care with dignity and respect.
The first assisted living building was opened in Portland Oregon. The place
was a hit and the concept started to spread. By 1986 the model for assisted liv- ing included 24-hour staffing. This gave the residents the chance to have personal care and health related services along with the sense of belong- ing in a community. It included the abil- ity to participate in activities designed to enhance social in- teraction. Each state defines assisted living care differently and has varying licensing requirements.
Between 1990 and 2000 the number of assisted living estab- lishments grew very fast. The variety of assisted living choices was amazing. There were private houses turned into places for a few people to live and the large cor- porations with large buildings.Both or- ganizational styles of for profit and not for profit, built buildings meant only for as- sisted living.
The assisted living concept keeps grow- ing. To better under- stand assisted living, Oregon’s care philoso- phy states it very well. “Assisted living...
is a program that promotes resident self-direction and participation in deci- sions that emphasize choice, dignity, priva- cy, individuality, inde- pendence and home- like surroundings.” Assisted living can be very beneficial when there is a need for some assistance with daily living but you are not sick enough to need skilled nursing,. A little help in the activities of daily liv- ing can give a boost to overall health and can give a person more time to enjoy quality of life.
Assisted Living,
today, offers help with activities of daily liv- ing. There are caregiv- ers available to help with bathing, dressing and medication man- agement. Activities to stimulate thought and socialization happen on a daily basis and meals, laundry and housekeeping are pro- vided. All these things come together to help residents live as inde- pendently as possible for as long as possible.
I was grateful that assisted living facul- ties exist all over the United States. Af- ter my mother had
a stroke she was not able to live success- fully at home. As she went through therapy in a skilled nursing rehab she regained
enough ability to be able to move to an as- sisted living commu- nity. My mother lived in this assisted living community with care- givers assisting her with her medication and with some per- sonal care. Mom was able to get out into the community often participating in the community events she found interesting. She was able to control her health care and
to make decisions she felt were in her best interest.
Even though we abide with the many COVID restric-
tions right now, I see residents in the Sierra View Homes Resi- dential Care involved in activities, doing
many activities that they enjoy. The staff interacts with the residents by helping with the activities of daily living, as the help is needed and by participating in the social activities with the residents. Assisted Living is licensed by the Department of Social Services and often has a separate section for residents suffering from de- mentia.
Assisted Living benefits those seniors who can no longer live successfully at home alone but are not sick enough to be in a skilled nurs- ing center. This kind of living allows peace of mind to the chil- dren, and the senior,
who are often trying to juggle work, rais- ing children and care giving. You have to do your homework and compare the living styles of the many types of assisted liv- ing. The building should be a pleasant environment but it
is the staff that cre- ates the welcoming encouraging support. Assisted living pro- vides the ability to live life with quality because there is as- sistance where it is needed. The impor- tance of being able to live in a place where there is care encour- ages residents to remain independent for a longer time with quality, dignity and respect.
Health & Fitness
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