Activities of Daily Living Support and Quality of Life in Senior Care
Take a look at just how residential assisted living in Pueblo West can put your mind at ease, offering daily reassurance that your loved one is as happy, healthy and fulfilled as possible.
It’s easy to take basic activities of daily living like getting dressed, cooking and eating food, using the bathroom and showering for granted. But for aging seniors with declining mobility, memory loss, illness or injury, these tasks can quickly become overwhelming. In residential assisted living in Pueblo West, seniors are offered round the clock caregiver support with activities of daily living, enabling them to enjoy the retirement they always dreamed of.
Let’s explore a typical day of activities of daily living, identifying how the right caregiver support can dramatically improve quality of life for seniors.
8am: Wake up and get out of bed.
The first challenge seniors face can come as soon as they wake up in the morning. For many of us, throwing off the duvet and hopping out of bed can be done without a second thought, but if a senior is facing reduced mobility, this may not be possible. What’s more, certain health conditions like arthritis may also make mobility particularly difficult in the mornings. In residential assisted living, highly trained caregivers are on hand to offer residents any assistance they need to get out of bed, reducing their risk of falls and injuries.
8.10am: Use the toilet.
Being able to use the bathroom correctly, including getting onto and off the toilet and cleaning up can become challenging for seniors. This may be due to a natural decline in mobility or a condition like Alzheimer’s disease, for example. Accepting caregiver support with personal care tasks like using the bathroom is often a particularly difficult part of aging. Senior care professionals understand this, and strive to offer dignified care that allows seniors to retain as much of their valued independence as possible.
8.15am: Brush teeth.
Taking care of dental hygiene is absolutely vital for the maintenance of good health. Unfortunately, brushing teeth daily can become difficult for seniors – particularly for those who struggle with memory loss or who lack the mobility to brush effectively. In any senior care setting, dental health should be prioritized; with the right caregiver support, a senior’s risk of experiencing issues like cavities can be reduced, leaving them with better protection against preventable pain and medical procedures.
8.20am: Get dressed.
Choosing the correct clothes and dressing each day is an incredibly important task, and caregiver support should include more than assistance with the physical act of getting dressed. Professional caregivers can also help seniors choose the right outfit to protect them from weather conditions, while also selecting clothing that will allow them to comfortably take part in all the life-enhancing activities they desire.
8.30am: Eat breakfast.
As a senior ages, even the most essential activities of daily living like feeding oneself can become overwhelming. For example, if a senior has suffered a stroke, they might struggle to grip cutlery or swallow effectively. In a senior care setting, caregivers are on hand to offer patient and compassionate support with the varied challenges mealtimes can present.
12.30pm: Eat lunch.
As mentioned previously, it’s not uncommon for the physical act of eating to become more difficult for seniors, but consuming food is only the final step in a whole process. When living independently, seniors must first go out to the store to buy groceries. They must then unpack their shopping, and prepare meals by combining and cooking ingredients correctly before sitting down to eat. All of these stages can present barriers for seniors. For example, for those with health conditions involving memory loss, getting to the grocery store and buying the appropriate ingredients may become very difficult. For seniors with reduced mobility, the physical act of cooking food may be overwhelming. Many senior care facilities provide three meals and snacks daily, relieving residents of the burden that shopping for groceries and planning, preparing and cooking food can all become.
6pm: Eat dinner.
Menus in senior care facilities are specially tailored by dieticians and cooking teams to meet the unique nutritional needs of aging individuals. This can effectively reduce a senior’s risk of developing health issues like malnutrition, while providing them the energy they need to enjoy a more active and fulfilling retirement. Many residential assisted living facilities also adapt menus to suit the dietary preferences of individual residents, to ensure mealtimes are always a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
7pm: Take a shower.
Many seniors start to struggle with bathing or showering independently in their own home – perhaps their bathtub is too low, or their shower is small and constrictive, or maybe they have reduced mobility and aren’t able to stand for long periods of time. Residential assisted living communities are expertly adapted to make these tasks easier, and combined with additional caregiver support, seniors are able to maintain personal hygiene with much greater ease. A decline in personal hygiene can impact everything from a senior’s physical health to their self-esteem and social life. With dignified caregiver support, seniors are able to feel well-groomed, confident and comfortable every day.
10pm: Get into bed.
Just as getting out of bed in the morning can become difficult for seniors, getting into bed at night can pose challenges, too. Caregiver support allows seniors to prepare for a great night’s sleep, helping them change into comfortable clothes and get into bed safely. In turn, this can increase their chances of getting a great night’s sleep and feeling well-rested and ready for the day upon waking.
Want to Know More?
If your parent or loved one is struggling with activities of daily living, residential assisted living in Colorado Springs can offer the compassionate, expert assistance they deserve. For more information on how we support our residents with activities of daily living, get in touch or arrange a tour today.