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What Are The Benefits Of Assisted Living?

What are the benefits of Assisted Living?

Do you want find out more about “what are the benefits of assisted living?”, if you are, this post should help. When making the decision to move your loved one into an assisted living facility it is usually a difficult one for everyone affected. Today’s loved ones are met with a lot of choices when it comes to finding their new living arrangements. Seniors who can benefit from 24 hours a day, 7 days a week help but who are not exclusively dependent may be an agreeable reason to move your loved one into assisted living. There are some benefits to assisted living, but with  most things, there will be some drawbacks. That is why it’s very important for members of the family and their loved ones to talk about their situation, and what steps they should take next.

The Benefits Of Assisted Living Facilities

Stress Levels Are Toned Down

Assisted living helps lover the stress your loved one during the transition of moving. Seniors enjoy their independence while they receive the help and care they will need while the loved ones families no longer have to be concerned their loved one’s needs. One benefit to assisted living surroundings is that they allow seniors who may have debilitating issues or the early onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s to live a somewhat independent life. Some facilities will have medical care at their location, but it will not always be there. The facility will provide a care level that is appropriate for seniors who don’t need 24 hour care, but may require assistance with their prescription meds, eating or food prep, and other day to day tasks.

Your Loved Ones Protection

Members of the family no longer have be concerned about their loved one getting manipulated, falling down, wandering off, not eating a healthy enough or taking the improper medication. The living facility will take every means possible to ensure your loved ones are continuously protected and safe.

Socializing For Your Loved One

It’s really not surprising for seniors to start to become lonely as they age. Loneliness in seniors may lead to a lot of problems, ranging from failing health or stints of depression, issues being inactive and more. At the assisted living facility, the residents become a member of a compassionate, loving, and caring community. Your loved one will be surrounded by seniors and have numerous opportunities to socialize and take joy in the company of other seniors their own age.

Increased Activity For Your Loved One

It’s very essential that we stay active as we get older. Your loved ones are offered an assortment of outdoor activities as well as indoor activities from arts & crafts, to movie night, or even fancy dinner parties. Some assisted living communities will offer their residents modes of transportation, so they can go on expeditions, like the market or go to doctors appointments.

Eating Healthier

Superbly cooked meals and nutrition are necessary for today’s seniors. Award-winning chefs make appetizing meals that also will fulfill your loved ones dietary needs and individual preferences of each of their seniors.

Assistance In Day-to-Day Duties

It’s very important for seniors to have their independence, but still have the assistance they need. Assisted living communities provide their residents with help, only when needed, with daily living undertakings, such as dressing, preparing meals and eating or laundry duties.

Find Assisted Living In Peoria

If you are looking for assisted living in Peoria, Arizona, Ventana Winds Retirement Community is the place to go! Call us today at 623-294-5590 and learn more about Desert Winds Retirement Community and what our facility has to offer you and your loved one. When visiting various assisted living communities, be sure you are asking the important questions. Print out our handy checklist to help you ask the right questions and what to look for when choosing an assisted living facility for you or your loved one.

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Assisted Living Checklist: What To Ask & What To Look For

Checklist For Assisted Living Peoria Arizona

If you’re looking for a checklist for assisted living that will help you in learning what you need to look for in an assisted living facility, read below!

When you are deciding on an assisted living facility, it’s important that you ready yourself. There are subtle differences between every assisted living community, they are never similar.

To stay ahead of the game, you need to be organized, below is a small checklist you can print and take with you. Make sure you always compare the differences between different communities; ask questions which will help you in deciding which assisted living community is right for you or your loved one.

Assisted Living Checklist

Below is an assisted living checklist you can use when you go for a visit or call an assisted living facility. Simply print out our Assisted Living Checklist to insure you ask the more important questions like:

  • Are their staff members allowed to administer medications?
  • Do their staff members have experience with diagnosing a recipient’s condition?
  • How much staff does your night shift have?
  • Are there nurses staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
  • What is their staff to resident ratio?
  • What types of apartments do you have available?
  • What type of experience and training does your staff have?
  • Are evaluations conducted prior to admission?
  • Can you describe your residents?
  • What is the monthly cost for your different types of apartments?
  • What is their policy on payment and billing?
  • How does their discharge process work?
  • Do they have a waiting list? If so, how long is the wait, and what is their policy?
  • Do the monthly fees cover all services? If not, what are the costs for  the extra services?

Assisted Living Tour Checklist

Below is an assisted living tour checklist to help you in knowing what to look for when taking a tour of the facility.

  • Pay close attention to the level of cleanliness.
  • Watch a community activity or event.
  • Do their staff members appear friendly and approachable?
  • Check out the outdoor area or courtyard, is it well kept and maintained?
  • Ask their security and staff questions, how do they respond?
  • Eat a meal with the residents, does it seem okay?
  • Speak with some residents. Do they like the facility?
  • Ask some questions about personal care.
  • Ask more about the move-in and move-out criteria.
  • Follow your gut.

About Desert Winds Assisted Living 

Desert Winds Retirement Community is a lot more than just your run of the mill retirement community. At Desert Winds we offer Assisted Living and Memory Care. We are located in Peoria, Arizona. Our Community offers several options to meet all of your needs. We are conveniently located by everything you may need, including wonderful restaurants, awesome shopping, tons of golf courses, cultural centers, sports complexes, and medical offices all within just a few miles.

Desert Winds boasts to be one of the best retirement locations in the West Valley. Our Retirement Community is built for today’s seniors who are looking for a lifestyle that is not only stimulating and active, but also interesting and adjustable.

Find Out More About Assisted Living in Peoria, Arizona

To find out more about give Desert Winds Retirement Community a call today at 623-294-5590.

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What is an Assisted Living Facility?

What is an Assisted Living Facility?

If you are searching for “what is an assisted living facility?” you may have questions for you or your loved ones. This post should point you in the right direction.

If you have started your search for an assisted living community for your loved one, then you might be unsure about what living in one means or what it is. Many people feel that assisted living is a retirement home or nursing home. However, senior living designers and professionals have worked more than 3 decades to revolutionize these communities to make them feel just like home.

Things That Aren’t Known About Assisted Living

It has stated that there are over 6,000 assisted living communities that are professionally managed in the United States with over 480,000 apartments.

We talked to staff members who work at assisted living communities who have knowledge about these communities and they provided a lot of insight for those looking into assisted living.

1. Assisted Living Provides Various Care Levels

Because there isn’t a nationwide definition for assisted living even though it is regulated within the United States. There are senior facilities that refer to themselves as assisted living communities who will offer various levels of care. They offer cost effective, residential approaches to delivering most of the same services that are available in nursing homes, or provided by personal care staff or home health services.

Not all assisted living communities are going to be the same. Some will provide only light care and then there are some that will provide care for those who are bedridden or who need help eating while staying in assisted living instead of a nursing home. It will really depend on the licensing for the community. Most states will have a tiered system for licenses where communities that have a higher degree licenses can provide higher care.

2. Each Community Will Be Unique

Besides care, the feel and look of assisted living will vary. Some communities will have a traditional, formal design while others have a more down to earth, homey feel. Some communities may have art deco décor while others have mid century modern designs. Communities will come in various shapes and sizes. They can be tower apartments located in a city center, intimate cottages, sprawling complexes located in the suburbs or communities that only have a small number of residents. There isn’t a standard size, but most assisted living communities will be licensed to care for 20 people, but it may have hundreds of residents.

Each community will have a different personality. You can visit different communities that are just down the street from each other that will offer the same care options and services, they can look identical, but that they will feel very different. Just because your loved one liked one, does not mean that the next one you visit will not feel right to them.

3. Yes! Pets Are Accepted!

Senior communities will have different pet policies with certain weight limits and breed restrictions, so it is vital that you do your research. For instance, there are communities that will have a pet interview to determine if your pet is going to be right for the community, while others will allow pets that are under 20 pounds. Fish and birds are often welcome in many communities, and there are some communities that will have pet coordinators that will care for the pets. So, check with the communities of choice and ask about their pet policies.

Be sure to learn more about the health benefits of pets and why many communities have started to allow pets into care programs in other blogs like Pet Therapy. For more in-depth information about the benefits that a senior will get from a pet, read Companion and Healing Pets at Senior Living.

4. Some Of The Living Costs Are Much Lower Than You Think.

Assisted living is cheaper than nursing homes or home health care in the same areas. You can use the Care Cost calculator on A Place for Mom that can help you find the cost for assisted living for your state and area. You can even compare it to the cost of maintaining a home or even having full time home care aides.

Additionally, there are more seniors that purchase long term care insurance that can help to finance their long term care. Veterans and their spouses may have VA benefits that can offset the cost of assisted living. You can often find guides about financing senior care which will have details about making financial plans that make care more affordable. Those who are considered to be low income, they may need to use Medicaid to pay for senior care. To explore this option, you will need to contact your local Area Agency on Aging office, which you can find here: www.eldercare.gov.

5. This Care Type Is Not Like A Nursing Home.

Research has shown that most families believe that a nursing home is needed for their senior loved one when they only need assisted living. Having an assessment done by a medical professional or adviser is the best way to find out what type of care is needed, but for some general indicators that can be drawn between a nursing home and assisted living. For example:

  • Nursing home residents need fully staffed and skilled nursing attention daily, while assisted living doesn’t need ongoing attention medically, and are more stable.
  • Nursing home residents normally have a semi-private or single room, while assisted living residents have a one bedroom or studio apartment.
  • Assisted living residents are mobile, while those who are in a nursing home are often bed ridden.
  • Assisted living residents are normally independent, but may need some help with daily living activities such as dressing and bathing, while nursing home residents need 24-hour assistance with daily living.

6. They Have Culturally Diverse Options

There is an increasing number of communities that have been designed to meet unique dietary, lingual, religious based, and cultural needs for the local population. On the west coast, there are a lot of Asian senior living communities like Fremont Hills located in Fremont, CA, and there are more on the way. There was recently ground broke for a new community that has been designed to meet the needs of the predominantly Chinese population in our area.

Jewish communities are also very popular, especially in Florida. Most communities will serve kosher food and there are some that have certified kitchens for kosher food, that will celebrate various types of Jewish holidays as well as have local Shabbat services. The Five Star Residence of Boca Raton is a Jewish community in the United States.

There are some communities that have multiple religious, dietary and cultural options. Beverly Hills Loving Care has an equal share of Persian and Jewish residents and have staff that speak both Yiddish and Farsi.

As the United States ages and diversifies, we have even seen a demand for niche communities which include LGBT oriented communities, golf-oriented communities, and some communities that have themes that no one has even thought of yet.

7. Assisted Living Also Offers Specialized Dementia Care.

The latest figures and facts have shown that more than 5 million Americans have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and need specialized dementia care treatments.

There are multiple assisted living communities that offer specialized memory care programs for Alzheimer’s which have been designed to improve the quality of life and decrease agitation. Normally, residents who have early stage dementia or Alzheimer’s are able to live with regular residents in the community, but whenever the condition starts to become advanced or worsens, the residents are then transitioned into the memory care unit of the community. Memory care is considered to be a form of specialized assisted living that is made secure to protect the residents and it is also equipped with a staff that has been specially trained to care for those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s.

8. There Are Some Communities Who Will Place Couples Together.

If you are worried about the needs of one parent who needs more assistance than the other, but you are unsure how their needs will be met in a community. You will need to contact the communities with your questions about their needs early.

There are many communities that will work to place couples together by putting them in double occupancy apartments, but the price is often more costly. Research the space that your parents need, and then consider the individual needs versus shared needs that they will have, and then plan for their future health changes. The process of arranging care for couples is often more difficult than planning for a single resident, but it is worth the legwork to keep your parents from being separated.

Assisted Living In Peoria by Desert Winds Retirement

Desert Winds Retirement Community is an assisted living facility located in Peoria, Arizona. To schedule a tour of our assisted living facility, SLS Communities or for more information please call us today at 623-294-5590.

 

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Assisted Living El Mirage

Assisted Living Facility in El Mirage

If you are searching for “Assisted Living Facility El Mirage”, while looking for assisted living facilities in El Mirage, Arizona, then Desert Winds Assisted Living is the Retirement Community is for you! For More information about our assisted living facility or to schedule a tour, please call 623-294-5590. Gorgeous sunrise, sunset and mountain views are available from all of our apartments.

Assisted living that’s close to El Mirage

Here at Desert Winds we offer Assisted Living, Memory Care, and also Independent Living services. We can be found near the border of El Mirage, Arizona. We also offer several different options for retirement living, which gives us the capability to meet your retirement needs.

Conveniently located close to El Mirage, and we are near great shopping places, good restaurants, sports arenas, golf courses, cultural centers, and even health and medical offices, all of which are within a few mike radius from our facility.

Reasons why we are considered the best assisted living facility:

The community here was built for the seniors of the world today, making it the best choice in El Mirage for assisted living. For those seniors who are interested in living a lifestyle that is going to be stimulating, interesting, and active, one that allows flexibility in their daily routines and schedules. With different types of retirement care to offer, such as assisted living and memory care which also includes independent living as well. Below you can find more to read on the different kinds of retirement facilities available.

Here’s more on our assisted living facility located close to El Mirage

Desert Winds Assisted Living Community is simply gorgeous and located near El Mirage, Arizona, and it is next to everything anyone could need within less than a two-mile radius. We provide spacious and 2-bedroom apartments, as well as studio apartments. All studio’s and apartments offer lots of space to accommodate all the residents’ personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture, and their personal items. The focal point for most of the activities are held in the beautiful courtyard, which also serves as a scenic view from all the apartments. Our courtyard has been designed with a lovely lush garden setting. Another wonderful view that all the apartments has is of the beautiful sunsets and sunrises, as well as the fantastic mountains.

Floor plans for various assisted living apartments

There is a variety of different floor plans offered at Desert Winds. We can provide floor plans for those with assisted living needs and we can also provide floor plans for those what have an independent lifestyle. Seniors will be able to have an active lifestyle at Desert Winds, located near El Mirage, Arizona. Find out which of our facilities floor plans works best for you by clicking on this link.

Our Assisted Living Facility offers tours – schedule yours today!

Searching For Assisted Living In Peoria or Assisted Living In Sun City West? Desert Winds can help! We offer the highest standard of assisted living services in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. For More information about our assisted living facility or to schedule a tour please call 623-294-5590. View our other assisted living facility in El Mirage, Arizona.

Read More about why Desert Winds Retirement Community is the best place to retire in Arizona.

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Checklist for Moving Into A Peoria Assisted Living Facility

Checklist For Moving Into Assisted Living

Moving into a Peoria, Arizona assisted living facility is the beginning of a new chapter for you. This is an opportunity to live in a senior focused and fun environment, with direct access to social activities and health care is exciting, but could also be a bit scary or stressful. Here are a couple tips for planning your move into an assisted living facility in Peoria, Arizona.

1. View The Facility

Take at least 1 day to visit the assisted living facility you are planning on moving in to. Walk around the entire facility making note of sizes of rooms, physical layout, how much closet space you will have, and any furniture you might need to provide that is not included. Talk to the operator to find out if they have a list of suggested items to bring, and also a floor plan of the entire facility layout.

2. Create Your Own Space

It always makes a place feel more like home when you bring in your own mementos and personal items that are dear to you. Bring in all of your knick-knacks, family photos, medals, artwork, etc. Create an inviting, warm, but familiar and comfortable environment for yourself.

3. Start Packing Early

Get ready for the move sooner than later. Start packing well before the date of the actual move. Go through your garments and decide what to bring, and what not to. Make sure the closet in your room is big enough to hold what you plan on bringing.

4. Adjustment Period

Moving from one location to new location can be tough and will take some time getting used to. It can take anywhere from a month to 3 months to adjust your new location. You may feel out of place at first, but keep in mind that these feelings are only temporary and will begin to fade once you have more established relationships and routines. Try to engage with other residents and make friends. It can be lonely all by yourself in a new place.

5. Participate In Social Activities

Participating is social activities is important because you are engaging with other residents and becoming part of the community. Try to start participating in activities right away. Don’t be scared to get out there, meet new people, and try different things. Your assisted living facility will most likely provide a list of regular activities that facility hosts. Choose a couple of programs to participate in early on. Making friends early on will make all the difference.

6. Reach Out

The assisted living staff is there to help you. Meet the members of the staff, get close to the ones you feel the most comfortable with, and don’t be scared to ask them questions when they arise. Don’t be shy, find staff you are comfortable with, and ask for help!

7. Stay In Touch With Loved Ones

Keep in touch with friends and family. Set up times when they can come and visit or call. Especially do this when you are first moving in. This will help your transition easier. Seeing faces you are familiar with will help you understand that your life is not completely changing, just your place of living. Although, don’t rely totally on family and friends for your social needs. Meet the other residents, make friends, and build your social support network inside the facility. If you are more of a shy type of person, keep in mind, every resident at the assisted living facility was once a new resident as well. Residents at the facility know what it is like to be new and will most likely approach you. Be open to them when they do.

8. Keep A “Glass Is Half-Full” Attitude

Transitioning into a Peoria assisted living facility can be scary, but this is a brand new chapter in your book of life, and can be very exciting and fulfilling as well. The staff at Desert Winds Retirement Community can help guide you through this transition and are also available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them when those arise.

Assisted Living, Independent Living & Memory Care In Peoria, Arizona

Independent Living: Searching For Independent Living In Peoria or Independent Living In Phoenix? Desert Winds can help! We offer the highest standard of independent living services in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

Assisted Living: Searching For Assisted Living In Peoria or Assisted Living In Sun City West? Desert Winds Retirement Communitycan help! We offer the highest standard of assisted living services in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

Memory Care: Searching For Memory Care In Peoria, Arizona? Desert Winds can help! We offer the highest standard of memory care services in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.

If you would like to schedule a tour please give us a call at 623-400-1468

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Help With Choosing Assisted Living Communities In Peoria,  AZ

choosing the right assisted living facility peoria

Finding the best assisted living facility for mom or dad can be one of the toughest decisions to make. We put together the top 10 things to look for when touring assisted living communities in Mesa Arizona to help guide you into making a better decision. While on your visits to each of the facilities, keep in mind the quality of care they are performing for their residents and determine if that type of care would be adequate for your loved one. Making the decision of when and where to move totally resides with the both of you.

  1. How Clean Is The Facility

Does the facility look and smell clean? Make sure and check everywhere to see how thorough they are. Check baseboards, windows, corners and furnishings for cleanliness. Request the full details on maintenance regiments, cleaning schedules and laundry procedures. Not all will be included in the rent so make sure and get the full details on additional cleaning costs as well.

Smell around the property for odor but don’t just think the facility is dirty just because one room might smell a little funky. That could be a single incident that just recently happened. However if you notice a foul smell lurking throughout the property, that’s a good sign that there might be underlying cleanliness issues. If you do smell something out of the ordinary, ask your tour guide to explain what may be causing the problem.

  1. Participate In The Facilities Activities For A Day

If you can, try to schedule your tour around the same time as an event or activity the community will be participating in. If you don’t want to participle you can at least observe what’s going on and get an idea of how many others attend events, how the staff interacts with the residents and get an idea of the kind of activities your loved one will eventually be participating in. Also, assisted living facilities usually have activity calendars that anyone can view online that list the upcoming events. Check out each calendar to make sure the type of event our outings line up with what your loved one is interested in. Furthermore if you are religious, make sure and ask about religious practices of the facility.

  1. How Friendly Are The Staff

I’m sure you have seen the 1996 movie “Happy Gilmore”, a movie about a hockey player turned golfer who has a grandmother going into retirement because she can no longer afford her house. The staff member Hal of the retirement facility played by Ben Stiller seems to be a super nice guy who treats the residents (while in company of their loved ones) so well, but once the family members leave, its the complete opposite, he is demanding and treats the residents really bad.

So, our point is, don’t just trust the friendliness of the staff when they are in front of you, walk around on your own and view how the staff interacts with the other residents. Are they friendly? Are they rude or short with the residents? How quickly do they respond? Do they make eye contact? How many staff members are on call at any given time? Make sure and meet the managers of the property. They will be able to give you better insight in their policies and all the specifics of staff numbers compared to residents.

  1. Tour The Outside Of The Property

It’s very likely that your loved one will be spending an adequate amount of time outdoors if they are living at an assisted living facility in Peoria, AZ. Peoria, Arizona residents enjoy more sunnier days than 95% of the rest of the United States. Temperatures don’t get too low, even during the winter months, the lowest temperature only gets down to about 35 degrees. Also, does the property feel safe? Is it a gated community? Do all areas of the outdoors seem to be used by the residents? Do the staff members use these areas as well?

  1. Try The Food

One of the most important aspect of an assisted living facility is the dining room experience and the food. When you are touring facilities make sure and find out what their “three meals a day” includes. Is there a menu? Also, make sure an inquire about dining procedures, options and hours available to make sure that lines up with your loved ones natural schedule. Furthermore, make sure and try the food! This is a great way to get to taste the type of food you or your loved one will be consuming. Its also an opportunity to meet other residents. Make sure you find out the procedures for residents who are unable to make their way to the dining room. Even if it is only a one time occasion where the resident is too tired or recovering from some kind of illness.

  1. Safety & Security

How safe will your loved one be at this facility? What kind of special needs do they have for grab bars, walk-in tubs, etc? If there is an emergency, who do the resident contact? Find out as much as you can about safety for the residents. Will there be registered nurses on site at all times, and if so what are the staffing patters? How are medication needs handled? Also, don’t forget to ask about any specific medical needs or other special needs that are required for you or your loved one.

  1. Personal Attention & Cleanliness Of Residents

As you tour the property, make sure and ask a ton of questions about the personal care of your loved one. Do you or your loved one have special bathing preferences? Also, it’s a good idea to observe the residents who are currently living at the facility. Do they have clean clothes? Is their hair cut? Beard trimmed? Does the staff smile, show respect and treat the residents with dignity?

  1. Talk To The Residents And Ask Questions

One of the first things you or your loved one should do is to talk to current residents of the assisted living facility. Ask them how the staff treats the residents? Ask them if they feel comfortable there. Do they like it? What’s their favorite part about this facility? Have they ever been to any other facilities? What’s the thing they hate most about the facility? Sometimes it takes asking these tough questions but it helps you better understand what kind of community you are getting involved with.  Also, you can find tons of reviews online from residents and their families that should help you get a deeper look inside the facility.

  1. Move Out Policies

No one likes moving over and over again and seniors are definitely in the same boat. Make sure and ask what their move out policies are. What would cause a resident to be kicked out of a facility? Does the facility give any type of warnings or notices before asking a resident to leave the facility. Also, if you or your loved one decide to move out of the facility, what kind of notice needs to be given? Most require a 30-day move out notice before leaving the facility.

  1. Go With You Gut Instinct

You will hear some say, “it just feels right” or “I don’t like the energy here”, in either case, go with your gut instincts, they are usually right. Do you see you or your loved one living at this facility for years to come? Do you feel important? Is the staff friendly and easy to interact with? So, in conclusion, choose the assisted living facility that “feels right” and the rest will fall into place.

“Trust your instincts, and make judgments on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.”

― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

Desert Winds Assisted Living Facility is located in Peoria, AZ and offers an abundance of activities, flexible amenity packages, several different lifestyles and many floor plans from which to choose. We are a community you will be proud to call home. Offering solutions for all Independent, Assisted Living & Memory Care Residents.