Assisted living communities are designed to promote independence while offering the right assistance. Maintaining a sense of autonomy is crucial for seniors, as it helps them maintain their health and well-being.
Previous research indicates that various factors influence older people’s perceptions of autonomy. These include their capacities and the way professionals treat them.
Maintaining a Sense of Self
Many seniors lose a sense of independence as they age, leading to depression and other health problems. However, assisted living facilities like Westminster Manor allow seniors to receive help while maintaining autonomy.
Seniors are encouraged to express themselves and follow their interests in the community with the support of trained caregivers. They can also learn new skills that will further promote their mental health. Instead, residents compensate for their reduced capacity by utilizing different strategies such as choosing doings that better fit their hampering ability, lowering the standards they used to perceive themselves as autonomous, acquiring aids and comparing their situation with peers with lower levels of function. These are referred to as the coping-based sense of autonomy. Maximizing resident independence is considered a person-centered care best practice. Consequently, caregivers are expected to employ a wide range of autonomy-supportive tactics.
Reducing the Risk of Falls
Fall-related injuries can dramatically affect the quality of life. As a result, they often contribute to depression and fear of falling. Fortunately, falls are preventable, and most fall-related injuries in assisted living can be avoided by making certain lifestyle choices and following specific precautions. Assisted living communities offer a more home-like environment than independent living communities, and their services are generally less expensive than those of nursing homes. Residents may stay in an assisted living community for a few months, a year, or long term. In addition to providing education and training, a successful prevention program requires a team approach. All clinical and nonclinical staff members should be involved in a fall management team, including observing and reporting resident changes that may increase the fall risk (e.g., a decrease in balance and gait or a change in medication). The program should also be designed to reduce extrinsic fall risks, such as equipment that is not functioning properly or excessive clutter or lighting.
Maintaining Mental Health
Often, the biggest challenge that seniors face is feeling hopeless and depressed. They may have difficulty adjusting to losing independence, which can lead to mental health issues. Maintaining a sense of purpose can help with this. When seniors can take on small goals and achieve them, it can give them hope and self-efficacy. Keeping this sense of purpose is important to maintaining a good quality of life in assisted living. This can be accomplished by clearly expressing needs and preferences to staff members. They can work to support lifestyle choices, making the living experience more enjoyable. This can also be done by encouraging socialization and activities promoting a healthy identity, such as allowing seniors to continue pursuing their passions and interests. This can include volunteering, playing bridge, or attending a local event.
Getting Involved in Activities
Getting involved in activities at an assisted living facility can help maintain a sense of independence and purpose. It can also promote memory retention and boost blood flow to the brain. Most participants of a study on autonomy in senior care reported that daily life was supported when adapted to residents’ preferences, such as being allowed to go outside at their preferred times and having meals at their desired time. However, these personal preferences were often difficult to realize. In this context, it is important to have open conversations about what is meaningful to seniors. It’s essential for seniors to feel like they have a choice about how their health care is provided. This includes ensuring they are up-to-date on their care plans and that designated family members feel welcome when visiting. This helps to minimize feelings of loneliness and alienation. This is especially crucial for seniors with dementia.
