Short-Term Assisted Living Could Be a Great Way to Transition to Full-Time Care

April 5, 2023 by ·
Assisted Living Fairhope AL

Assisted Living Fairhope AL

A commonly overlooked benefit of assisted living is short-term -or respite- care. Many people don’t realize that short-term is an option when it comes to assisted living. Now, not all assisted living facilities will provide respite care options, but for those that do, it can be a great way to help an aging senior get to know what assisted living offers, why it’s beneficial, and to grow comfortable with the idea of making it full time for their life.

There are numerous reasons respite care services at assisted living can help to transition an aging senior to rely on this elder care option full-time. Below, we outline a few of the key ones.

It Takes Away the Mystery

There are many misconceptions people have about assisted living in the United States. Some people equate it with a different type of elder care while others assume it’s just for end-of-life care.

Seniors who choose assisted living for their future ultimately realize that quality of life can dramatically improve as a result. Instead of being lonely and at home waiting for each day to pass, perhaps for a family member or friend to stop and check in on them, they get to be as active as they want at assisted living (within reason).

When you rely on respite care options, there’s no more mystery revolving around assisted living; you know exactly what it offers and why it would be a great choice for your future.

It Shows What’s Available

Each assisted living community is different, so what activities may take place at one facility may be different than what might be available at another, but each one should offer unique benefits.

It’s not always easy to discern exactly what a day looks like at assisted living, even if you take a guided tour. For an aging senior who relies on respite care for a couple of days a week or even just for overnight stays, they begin to realize the value this elder care option provides.

It Offers a Snapshot of What Life Could Be Like

Ultimately, respite care services provide a brief glimpse into what life would be like for that senior if they moved into assisted living full-time. It’s not easy to understand that from brochures, a virtual tour, or even word-of-mouth recommendations. But, when an elderly person is staying at assisted living for even a few days or a week at a time, they get the inside track on what it truly is like to live there.

Then, when they want to talk about their future, the support they’ll need, or they return home to a lonely house and those deeper feelings of isolation, assisted living will often rise to the top of their future choices.

Short-term respite care options can also help families wrestle with a wide range of issues, including feeling like they’re abandoning their loved one, being overwhelmed providing care by themselves, or even worrying about what their aging parent or other loved one will think of them if they (ultimately) decide on assisted living. Respite care provides more than just a short-term break It opens up doors to incredible future opportunities.

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

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Assisted Living Fairhope AL · 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.
Google Verified Author