Can Seniors Enjoy Assisted Living on a Short-Term Basis?

When it comes to the elder care topic of assisted living, many people assume it’s for long-term or permanent care solutions. In other words, a person assumes that when you need assisted living, the senior will be moving into one of these facilities, and that’s it.

In truth, it could be for part-time or respite care as well. In other words, an aging senior may be supported by family members or friends who are going away for a vacation, to deal with some other family related challenges, or for a business trip and simply won’t be there for a week or two.

Many assisted living facilities do provide respite care options that can allow aging men and women the option of staying at their facility for several days a week, a few days at a time, one week, two weeks, or other durations, depending on availability and need.

Considering Assisted Living

When people hear about assisted living as an elder care choice, they probably have certain misconceptions or preconceived notions about it. Most people simply don’t know very much about modern assisted living communities.

Unfortunately, they associate assisted living with other types of elder care, types that have been in the news for all the wrong reasons or where people may go after a hospital stay before they transition back home.

The truth is that assisted living is about maximizing quality of life and helping aging men and women no longer have to worry about the regular challenges and activities of maintaining or cleaning their home, cooking their own meals, going shopping for food, and so forth.

When you have challenges in convincing your elderly parent or other loved one to at least think about assisted living, you may have another way in through respite care.

Aging Seniors and Respite Care

Let’s say, for example, your father has been living alone for the past few years. In the past several months, his health has been extremely challenge. It has affected his mobility. You’ve been supporting him, stopping by in the morning some days and in the evening a few other days to check on him, help prepare some meals, and do other activities like that, but it’s taking a toll.

You worry about him at night. Sometimes you can’t sleep because you wonder if he’s in bed safe and sound or if he tried to get to the bathroom and is now stuck on the floor.

There may be a quality assisted living community right there in town that offers overnight stays as an option. That means you or someone else could drop your father off in the late afternoon or evening hours, he could enjoy a nice meal (if that’s provided), companionship with other seniors his age, take part in activities, and sleep in a comfortable and safe environment surrounded by experienced staff.

Then he can return home in the morning to enjoy life in his own place. He could then see that assisted living might very well be a great choice for more than just overnight stays.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to Assisted Living in Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.