Assisted Living Services

Not everyone who requires regular care necessarily needs to move to an aged care home. For many Australians, an ‘in-between’ option is required: a community where you can still live independently but access care when you need it.

One option to consider is assisted living, which provides you with a supportive environment, but the freedom to continue doing the things you love.

Want to find out more? Here is a guide on how assisted living in Australia works, and the benefits it offers seniors and people living with disability.

What Is adult assisted living?
Senior assisted living
Assisted living for couples
Assisted living for people with disabilities
Dementia assisted living
Mental health assisted living
Would residential assisted living suit me?

What Is adult assisted living?

Adult assisted living is where people who require care live in serviced communities, often groups of apartments called ‘serviced apartments’ or ‘assisted living units.’

Assisted living services are delivered differently from what you may find in a typical nursing home. While there are shared outdoor spaces, public buildings, daily organised activities and plenty of opportunities for social interaction, residents have their own household amenities and don’t live in wards.

The idea is to provide residents with private space just like a regular home, but ensure that support is nearby if they need it. Think of it as living in a regular community – just with a little extra help!

Senior assisted living

As you grow older, you may find assisted living care is a good fit for your needs – especially if you would like more personal care services than you can get at home, but don’t need round-the-clock clinical care or supervision.

Some seniors choose to go into assisted living for safety reasons. If there is an emergency, for example, care professionals and medical staff can be on the scene within minutes instead of having to travel from the nearest hospital to your home.

Others choose this option because they still prefer to maintain their independence, but want the convenience of not having to look after their home or cook regular meals (particularly if they suffer from a chronic health condition, or mobility is an issue). Assisted living can be a great way to enjoy quality of life without having to worry about tasks which are becoming increasingly difficult to do.

Here are some other benefits of assisted living in Australia for seniors:

• meals delivered daily– residents in the community can eat healthy, freshly prepared meals in their unit, or choose to eat with others in communal dining rooms.
• cleaning services– domestic help to reduce the burden of independent living can make life more enjoyable.
• transportation–assistance with travel, whether for shopping trips, chores or going to social events, can help those who can no longer drive or who have mobility issues
• round-the-clock security – an emergency support call system allows residents to signal their need for assistance if they get into trouble
• medication management – help with managing and organising complex medicine schedules is on hand
• social activities and leisure –recreational activities are a vital component of successful senior assisted living, so most communities offer plenty of opportunities to take part in activities that improve health and wellbeing.
• Personal care assistance – if needed elderly assisted living unit scan provide a high level of support when it comes to bathing, showering, dressing and other tasks associated with personal care.
• Access to allied health professionals –physiotherapy, dietetics and occupational therapy are available in assisted living communities

Keen to explore whether assisted living is for you? Home Caring offers plenty of assisted living options for seniors. To chat to someone about how we can help, please get in touch for a FREE consultation.

Assisted living for couples

Assisted living isn’t just for single people; there are plenty of options available for couples if you would prefer to live with your spouse or partner.

Units for couples come with all the comforts you enjoy at home, with the added benefit of around-the-clock support from trained professionals. In many cases, couples that live in assisted living accommodation find that they have more time to enjoy together and a better social life. It is much easier to meet and form relationships with new people when you are part of a larger community.

Assisting living for people with disabilities

If you have a disability, it can be hard to find the right balance between living in your own space, on your own terms, and receiving the support you need for daily tasks.

Independent assisted living can be a great option, as it gives you easy access to professional care services, on-site transportation and help with mobility, while still allowing you to have your own private living space.

Some of the benefits of assisted living for people with disabilities include:

• community engagement – plenty of opportunities for classes, groups and leisure activities are available within the community
• trained professionals – assisted living provides you with access to experts who are trained to assist people with a range of disabilities and health needs
• mobility support – this includes assistive technology, mobility equipment and home modifications to help you move around independently
• flexible care services – residents can tailor their care services to match their needs, depending on what they need help with
• help with personal care – assisted living offers help with personal care tasks (e.g. showering and dressing) along with the freedom and privacy of living on your own
• capacity building support – programs to help you reach your personal goals and get out in the community with confidence are available
• Access to allied health professionals – physiotherapy, dietetics and occupational therapy are available in assisted living communities

For help finding assisted living for adults with physical disabilities and other conditions, please get in touch with us at Home Caring – we are happy to help!

Dementia assisted living

People living with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease often have complex and changing needs. Because it is a progressive condition, they may be able to do some things for themselves, but can’t live wholly on their own without support.

Assisted living can help people living with dementia maintain their independence while providing professional care specific to their needs. Residents are also encouraged to engage with the rest of the community and take part in social activities, if that is what they desire.

Some of the benefits of assisted living for people with dementia include:

• help with personal care if needed
• domestic work provided (e.g. laundry and cleaning)
• healthy and freshly-prepared meals provided daily
• medication management
• pain management
• opportunities for social engagement
• access to medical professionals and allied health professionals
• access to carers specifically trained to support people living with dementia
• the flexibility of developing a care plan that is suited to your needs
• a home-like environment which enables people with dementia to feel at ease

Mental Health Assisted Living

Assisted living can be beneficial for people who are living with a mental health condition that makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks – as well as provide plenty of opportunities for social engagement in a caring community.

The main benefit for residents is regular support from mental health clinicians and trained counsellors. These professionals can help you improve your quality of life, manage medication and come up with strategies to manage your mental health.

An assisted living community also has trained staff oncall, should you find themselves in a crisis and in need of help.

Would residential assisted living suit me? 

Sometimes it can be hard to know if you would benefit from assisted living, especially if you like living in your own home and are unsure what level of care you may require.

To work out whether assisted living is a good option for you, it’s a good idea to carefully assess your needs and whether your current living situation is ensuring those needs are met.

Here are some questions to consider or perhaps talk through with your significant other, family member, trusted friend or doctor.

• Do you currently find it challenging to maintain your home and do the cooking, cleaning, shopping and laundry?
• Are family members struggling to provide you with the care that you need?
• Would you feel more comfortable knowing that emergency medical assistance was available, whenever you need it?
• Do you feel lonely and isolated at home and feel you would benefit from being a part of a larger community?
• Do you find getting around difficult and would benefit from transportation services?
• Do you need assistance with personal care?

Choose Home Caring for assisted living today

Assisted living through Home Caring can offer you the best of both worlds: independence  and a private space, with plenty of support on hand and a community you can belong to.For many people, it also leads to an improvement in their quality of life and overall wellbeing.

If you would like to find out more about our affordable assisted living units and services, please get in touch for a FREE consultation. We can discuss with you whether assisted living is a good option, the cost of assisted living, and how assisted living options can be specially tailored for your needs.