Why Individualized Care Is Critical in Assisted Living Communities
No two individuals are the same.
Each and every one of us and our loved ones have our own preferences, needs, and interests.
For this reason, assisted living communities have an imperative to provide customized care suited to each resident.
In fact, the movement toward personalized care in assisted living communities has gained increased traction over the last few years.
Within this model of care, the goal is to provide the appropriate level of care based on the specific needs of the resident.
In this post, we’re highlighting three specific benefits that come with this type of personalized care.
#1: Individualized care provides stability for the resident.
Consistency, structure, and safety are all important elements of healthy aging.
If your loved one lives in an environment that does not provide these elements, he or she is more likely to feel overwhelmed, confused, and unhappy.
On the other hand, with personalized care, caregivers have a deep understanding of how to meet your loved one’s unique needs and create a daily routine and environment of ease.
Whether it be the knowledge that the same caregiver will be there every morning to assist with dressing, bathing, and other activities of daily living, or having consistent assistance at mealtime–personalized care makes a huge difference in your loved one’s daily life.
#2: Individualized care gives assisted living staff a deeper understanding of resident needs.
When assisted living caregivers have the opportunity to spend more time with individual residents, there is a natural process of learning that occurs.
Individualized care enables caregivers to take note of the intricacies of each and every resident’s needs, such as…
- Knowing what a resident does or doesn’t like to eat.
- Understanding what is most comfortable for the resident when it comes to helping him or her get dressed for the day.
- Comprehending which social activities he or she wishes to attend.
From there, a caregiver can deliver quality care that helps the resident feel comfortable and at home in the assisted living community.
#3: Individualized care helps avoid social isolation.
Naturally, with an emphasis on personalized care comes increased social engagement between residents and caregivers.
For example, at The Ashford on Broad and The Ashford of Mt. Washington, one caregiver tends to the same resident throughout the day, including mealtime.
This allows for customized care and focused attention, as well as meaningful and lasting social engagement and bonding between resident and staff.
Whether recounting intriguing stories from the past or discussing similar interests and hobbies, the caregiver-resident relationship creates a dynamic for meaningful engagement.
Since isolation and loneliness are directly connected to a decline in the physical and mental well-being of individuals, taking steps to ensure that a resident has various opportunities for social engagement is an imperative.
If you’d like to see individualized care in action, contact us to schedule a tour of one of our Ashford communities.
We’re happy to answer any and all questions you have and look forward to meeting you in person!
