Assisted Living in Lake Ozark, MO

As we grow old, our bodies grow old too, arms become less strong, and sight loses its sharpness. This is the natural course of life, but it doesn’t have to limit you. Assisted living can help you or your loved ones to continue living their lives without much struggle.

This simple guide will help you understand:

What assisted living is
The services that assisted living communities provide
What services you might need
How to find the right assisted living community for your needs

When it comes to assisted living facilities, assisted living residents want to know everything there is to know. They want to know all about it because they will plan to stay in these places for some time. They may want to take advantage of personal care services, skilled nursing care, and general human services and know the various assisted living options available to them. No one wants to be in an assisted living facility that will not meet their needs.

Read on if you are looking for information for yourself or your loved one in this important part of their life. Alternatively, if you have questions or concerns about senior living, skilled nursing facilities, and a comprehensive senior living community, reach out to our staff today at StoneBridge Senior Living.

We would be pleased to provide you with information about assisted living costs, assisted living accommodations, independent living communities, and more.

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a type of housing facility designed to help people who require personal and medical care. This type of housing comes in shared quarters, individual rooms, or apartments within the facility.

They provide a home-like setting to make the residents feel at home and promote their independence. They also offer services to assist residents with daily tasks and activities.

Services Provided by Assisted Living Communities

Assisted living communities provide services that vary from one facility to another. Here are some services available in most assisted living facilities:

On-site meals – up to three meals a day
Monitoring to ensure residents take their medication
Personal grooming such as bathing and dressing
Laundry and housekeeping
Medical care
Recreational services and activities
24-hour emergency care

If you are looking for specific assistance or types of care services, reach out to our team at StoneBridge Senior Living today. We know that you want an assisted living facility that will certainly be there for you and treat you respectfully. Find out how our assisted living facilities take a more comprehensive approach to personal care. If you have questions about assisted living expenses and rehabilitation services, we can answer those as well.

How Do I Know What Services I Need?

The services you need depend on your assistance to perform your daily tasks. You should discuss this with your family and caregivers to have a comprehensible picture of the services you need.

Here are three questions to ponder on:

Why do I need or want to change my current living arrangements?
What daily activities do I need assistance with? (possible activities include personal hygiene and grooming, and supervision with medications)
How often do I need assistance?

Your answers to these questions, along with input from your family and caregiver, will help to decide the services you need. After this, the next step is to find an assisted living community that will attend to your needs.

Things to Look For in an Assisted Living Community

Choosing an assisted living community requires careful consideration and planning. You and your family should examine the assisted living facilities based on your required services.

To help you make the right choice, here are some questions you should ask on key aspects:

The general condition of the facility
Is the facility licensed to provide assisted living services?
Do they have enough insurance coverage to cover loss/damage to personal property?
What is their policy on medical emergencies and visitation?

Costs and scope of services provided

You want to ask a few questions that many assisted living communities will answer confidently and without any issue.

Does the contract agreement cover personal and medical care, accommodation, and other support services?
What terminates the contract, and how do I get a refund?
Can I get additional services if my needs change?
How do I pay for services that I need temporarily?
Do the services you provide come in different levels or categories? What are the costs for each category?
Can I assess any private, corporate, or government program to help with the cost of services?
What are your policies on billing, payment, and credit?
Can a staff member help me manage my finances, or do I need to designate a family member or outside party to do so?

Staff

The staff, how they provide the services, and the quality of the staff members’ personal care, are critical.

Are the staff members properly trained?
How often does the facility have to replace staff members?
How do the staff relate to residents and visitors?
Do staff members dress and conduct themselves well?
Do the staff and residents relate to each other by their first names?
How do staff members respond to scheduled and unscheduled needs?
Do staff members assist residents who experience memory, orientation, or judgment losses?
Does the staff provide a 24-hour emergency to cover activities such as grooming, housekeeping, telephone use, delivery of medication, and transportation to hairdressers, doctors, or other actions?

Residents and Atmosphere

Of course, you are living among other people. You want to live with people who are bursting with joy, vigor, and immense energy in the assisted living residence you choose.

Here are a few questions to ask regarding these living facilities.

Do the residents look happy in the facility?
How do the residents socialize with each other?
Will you or your loved one be comfortable living with the current residents?
Do the residents operate at levels of functioning like yours or your loved ones?

How about the Facility Design?

There are various aspects that you must think about when designing living facilities.

Does the appearance of the building look like a place you’d call home?
Are the rooms, hallways, and doorways accessible to walkers or wheelchairs?
Are there walking aids such as handrails?
Are the floor and floor coatings slippery?
Does the residence have elevators?
Are the cabinets and cupboards easy to reach?
Is there enough natural and artificial lighting?

Medication and Health care

Of course, the medication and health care services are critical. Here are a few questions to ask as you compare assisted living facilities.

What is the policy on storing medication, recording medication intake, and assisting residents with their medication?
Does the facility allow residents to self-medicate?
Who coordinates visits from other health professionals, such as an occupational therapist?
How often does the facility invite a physician or nurse to provide medical checkups?
How do they supply medication to residents?

Features of Individual Units

Let us delve a little further when it comes to the community.

Do the vacant units come in different sizes and types, like single and double occupancy?
Is a 24-hour emergency response system integrated with the unit?
Are the bathrooms accessible to wheelchairs and walkers?
Are the bathrooms private, and do the residents have their lockable doors?
Can the residents furnish/decorate the units to their taste?
Who handles the bills for telephone and cable television if they are available?
Is there a kitchen unit equipped with a refrigerator, cooking appliance, and sink?
Can residents keep food in their units?
Does the facility allow smoking in the units or public areas?

As you can see, there are many ways to go here when it comes to assisted living facilities. It is necessary to have the right assisted living care options.

Social and Recreational Activities

How about the activities? Are they encompassing? Do they have a wide variety of people participating in these activities? There are more questions to ask here.

Are there recreational or social programs/events?
Do residents participate in the community’s events and activities?
Do volunteers, including family members, come into the residence to organize or assist with programs?
Do the residents partake in community chores or activities?
Are pets allowed? Does the facility have pets? If yes, who is responsible for pet care?

Food Service

Sure, the food service is critical. Let’s find out how to be more investigative here.

How often does the residence provide three nutritionally balanced meals?
Can a resident request special treats or diets ordered by a physician/nutritionist?
Can residents eat in their units?
Are there set times for eating? Can residents eat at their preferred time and place?

If You Need More Assistance With Senior Living Options, Reach Out To StoneBridge Senior Living

Assisted living can provide the assistance needed to help you or your loved one get the most out of life. The tips shared above, you should find the right assisted living facility for your needs.

When we say, “Let our family care for yours,” we mean more than our close-knit community of caregivers. As a registered nurse, our mother dedicated her career to senior care. Today, each of us plays a unique and active role in the operations of our StoneBridge Senior Living communities carrying on our family tradition of providing personalized care for our residents and their families.