Increased Activity, Even Part-Time with Respite Assisted Living Can Improve Confidence and Esteem Among an Aging Senior

February 28, 2022 by ·

Imagine your health and physical ability was in such decline that you had to stop doing some or many of the things you loved. What do you think would happen to your self-esteem? Your confidence? Usually, it is going to decline, isn’t it? Perhaps that’s what happens for so many aging men and women who face increasing challenges with age.

An elderly person who lives at home alone or with family might no longer be able to go to the park by themselves, to go shopping on their own, or even prepare a meal safely. They may depend on others for assistance. When that happens, they can feel helpless. That is certainly going to deteriorate their confidence even more.

While most people assume assisted living is something for full-time, a permanent, long-term decision and commitment, quality assisted living facilities do provide respite care options. Not all of them do, but for those that provide this option, it means aging seniors can take advantage of the benefits assisted living offers, including activities, safe living during the overnight hours, or even for a few days during the week or a couple of weeks, which can boost self-esteem.

What kind of activities are available at assisted living?

Assisted Living Theodore, Al: Improve Confidence and Esteem

Every assisted living facility is different, so it’s important not to conflate all of them as being the same. You may find wonderful arts and crafts activities taking place on a regular basis at one facility where another may focus on music, exercise and fitness, cooking, or something else.

That’s why it is important to contact an assisted living facility directly and find out not only what types of respite care services they offer, but also what kind of activities are available.

An aging person may realize that one specific assisted living community does offer respite care for evening, day time visits, short-term stays, and so on, but not the type of activities or hobbies or even entertainment that individual enjoys. Whereas, another facility may have those activities, but not the type of respite care the senior would prefer.

How to encourage an aging senior to become more active?

Many family members, including or perhaps especially adult children who become de facto caregivers for these individuals as they age, may want to talk about assisted living with these seniors, but what if they are resigned to some notion the best years of their life are well behind them?

The most important thing is to focus on activities this senior or other individual would enjoy doing. Most adult children will have a pretty good idea of what types of activities are still important to their elderly mother, father, grandparent, or other loved one.

Focus on those types of activities, find an assisted living community in the area that encourages these, and then discover what type of respite care services they may offer. This is a great way to broach the topic about assisted living with an aging senior who may be a little hesitant or even resistant at first.

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

Filed Under: Assisted Living · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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