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Independent Living
Independent living is the hallmark of the
American spirit. However, the longer we live,
the harder it is for us to maintain an independent
lifestyle. This article introduces some ideas
to help you think through your options for
maintaining your independence at a level
that does not overburden you or put you at
unnecessary risk.
Once people retire and the bonds to their
community dissolve, they look for a better,
more comfortable life elsewhere. Many healthy
and active senior citizens find such a life
in a retirement community. There, private
residences provide the independence that
the owners are accustomed to. And, by being
oriented toward senior citizens, these communities
can provide services not often found in the
general community such as social, craft and
sporting activities geared for older adults.
Many communities also coordinate on the homeowner's
behalf the mundane and labor intensive chores
normally associated with home upkeep (for
example, lawncare, home cleaning and maintenance).
Senior citizens can pass many
enjoyable years
in retirement communities, but
because of
illness, declining health or
mobility, or
loss of loved ones, independent
living may
become more difficult. Two approaches
to
consider are:
- Assisted living technologies that keep independence
from becoming lonely isolation. For example,
a simple device such as a medical alarm can be used to contact a live person at
the touch of the button, who can then assess
the situation and send help as needed.
- Assisted living communities that provide
an appropriate level of care and support
for the semi-active and mostly independent
elderly. The most frequent problems assisted
living people face are related to falls in
the home or needing help with medications.
Assisted living communities feature individual
units (homes or condominiums or apartments)
easily accessed with nearby parking and medical
staff on the premises. Residents of these
communities are free to come and go, even
drive, yet still have the amenities of an
in-house restaurant, store, activities center
and swimming pools.
When the residents feel they
need more help,
for instance when they become
bed-ridden,
a move to a Skilled Nursing Facility
may
be in order. Often the assisted
living community
will be affiliated with or adjoin
a skilled
facility which offers 24-hour
nursing care,
rehabilitation and other more
demanding medical
attention.
Finally, an interesting blend of these two
is starting to appear: skilled nursing facilities
with an assisted living wing, often attractive
to those in the assisted living community
who need a brief recovery period, or those
making the transition more gently. |
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