A recent study from the International Journal of Health Services found that at least 15% of adults over 65 reported difficulty making appointments. 12% struggled with tests or treatments, and 9% with medications.
According to the CDC, 88% of seniors also have multiple chronic conditions to manage. They last a year or more and require constant treatment. Examples include:
- Hypertension
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Kidney disease
This makes senior healthcare management a unique challenge. Their care needs to meet their unique needs and help them live a fulfilled life, not just treat their symptoms.
There is a way to achieve all of these goals. Read on to learn how to navigate healthcare management for seniors in assisted living.
Personalized Care Plans
Having a care plan is essential at any age. An assisted living community can help create a healthcare plan. It’ll include essential components such as:
- Regular checkups
- Preventative screening
- Management of chronic conditions
It helps guide all the rest of their healthcare management. The plan gives them a place to start. It helps them keep track of and decide:
- What services they need
- What external healthcare they require
- What type of community to go to
On-Site Healthcare Services
There’s no one-size-fits-all type of senior healthcare, and an assisted living community recognizes that. The type of senior healthcare services provided depends on the type of community they enter.
Assisted living provides a caring staff who are available at all times. They can assist residents with daily tasks. These may include:
- Dining
- Laundry
- Walking
Many communities also have specialized options such as memory care. These wings have specialized staff. They also have a different layout.
Why would memory care be part of a senior’s healthcare plan? They’re built to serve the needs of the over 6.9 million older adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
The staff prevents them from wandering and encourages them to eat. They ensure safety and prevent any falls or other dangers the condition creates.
Comprehensive Medication Support for Seniors
Medication support for seniors is one of the primary healthcare functions of assisted living. According to a study by Quato, 35.8% of seniors use five or more medications at once. The prevalence of inappropriate use is around 10%.
Senior living communities have systems for safely administering medication. Trained staff are on hand to deliver the correct dose at the right time. It prevents any mistakes that could send residents off their prescribed regiment.
The staff can also educate residents and family members on medication protocols. That could mean informing them about side effects and dosage changes.
They’ll also help everyone up-to-date. This lets residents and families advocate for themselves and approve any changes before they’re made.
Nutrition and Exercise
An assisted living community provides delicious, nutritious meals. It reduces the stress of having to choose what to eat while getting all the necessary nutrients.
A 2016 study found 28% of adults over 50 were inactive, including 30% of those with a chronic disease.
An assisted living community’s programs can also prevent a sedentary lifestyle in later life. It provides areas to allow seniors to exercise however they feel comfortable.
Activities and Amenities
Elderly health management is about more than doctor’s visits and medications. It’s also about more than necessary daily activities such as bathing and dressing.
It’s about exciting daily activities that make life feel worthwhile and prevent it from getting monotonous. They’re an essential part of not just surviving but thriving.
The health impacts of proper socialization can’t be understated. Many of an assisted living community’s programs are done in groups, which helps to combat loneliness.
Social groups are typically focused on an activity, and this has a personal benefit for members. It can help them discover new passions or rediscover old ones they’d put on the back burner.
All of these factors improve assisted living wellness. They provide a boon to mental and physical health, but that’s not all.
Most seniors say being healthy means being able to do what they’re passionate about. An assisted living community allows them to do so safely.
Coordinating with External Services
Pulling off a personalized health care plan isn’t a task an assisted living community’s staff can do alone. They need to speak to other professionals on the outside.
This means scheduling appointments and communicating with external providers. They can help find doctors who understand the complexities of senior care. They’ll also work with specialists such as:
- Cardiologists
- Endocrinologists
- Dentists
- Surgeons
- Physical therapists
This careful senior care coordination leads to better health outcomes. There’s also less of a disruption when residents move into a community.
Having a connection to previous care providers allows for a smooth transition. It keeps their normal healthcare routine going.
Residents won’t miss regular appointments, an essential part of managing chronic conditions. They will be continually screened for new, emerging issues so they can be treated as soon as possible.
Family Advocacy and Communication
Senior healthcare management also isn’t as effective without family support. Entering a community doesn’t mean losing support from loved ones on healthcare decisions.
They must stay updated on changes in their family member’s health status or care needs. They should always have the final say in any major decisions.
Families help each other further by maintaining open communication with the community. It lets them know if it’s continually maintaining the same level of quality care.
They can also participate in care plan meetings. It gives them a deeper insight into the community’s healthcare management strategies and how they change.
Get Healthcare Management in a Quality Assisted Living Community Today
Healthcare management for seniors is a complex web. Assisted living communities help through personalized care plans.
They include components such as medication support and coordination with outside services. Healthy amenities and family advocacy provide the final piece.
Rittenhouse Village at Michigan City has been receiving top retirement home honors from Reader’s Digest for 13 years straight. It’s all thanks to our experienced staff and attractive amenities.
We offer specialized care for each resident, whether it’s through independent senior living, assisted living, or our nationally recognized SHINE© Memory Care program. Contact us to look into booking a room today.
