Living independently is one of those things that many of us take for granted. That isn’t always the case for loved ones that may be battling a degenerative disease or that may no longer be able to take care of themselves.   

Assisted living provides a convenient solution to everyday life. Instead of waiting for an accident to happen, it may be time to line up an enhanced level of care for your loved one. 

Before you can place your family member into a home, you’ll need to know the assisted living requirements. The good news is that millions of elderly already live in assisted living facilities across the country. If your parent needs extra care, the right fit is out there. Your parent needs extra care, the right fit is out there. 

The Benefit and Requirements of Assisted Living 

As a form of long-term care, assisted living is a way for seniors to maintain some of their independence.  They will also receive the care they need to get through the day. Assisted living offers support for those who need extra help with the activities of daily life. 

In that sense, assisted living allows your loved one to get the care they need without compromising their autonomy. That can help maintain a feeling of independence and a more positive outlook on life. 

For family members, they can rest assured that their loved one has the resources they need to stay safe and engaged day after day. They’ll also have the peace of mind of knowing that their loved one has access to help should they need it.   

Caretaking is often a balancing act, and some residents will need more hands-on focus and attention. Others may only need specific help at certain times of the day, such as when taking medications. 

The Qualifications for Assisted Living 

Seniors or their families may opt for an assisted living community for various reasons. The most common have to do with the care plans offered. Some may need help with medications or have observational needs while others may have more advanced assisted living requirements.  

You’ll certainly want to match your loved one’s needs to the facility at hand. If you’re looking for a high degree of community-based activities, make that clear in your search.   

In fact, one of the most important requirements for assisted living is that the facility provides a personalized approach. Not every resident has identical needs, and communities that meet the unique needs of each resident offer a better experience for all.  

When family can drop in and say hello instead of caretaking, that can foster better interactions. At the end of the day, your family member will develop a better sense of their self-worth and self-sufficiency. That can mean a significantly better quality of life. 

Assisted Living Requirements 

There are some assisted living admission requirements that you’ll need to meet before your loved one can join a community. First are the admission forms. These help communicate your family member’s unique needs to the staff and administrators of the facility. You will have to share your loved one’s medical history, and they will likely undergo a physical assessment. 

At the facility itself, a functional assessment will be performed. This will determine your loved one’s care needs. The assessment also helps staff to know what tasks that they’re able to complete on their own and where they may need additional help.   

Staff will check things like bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. That information will ultimately form the basis of their care.  

As for any assisted living age requirements, that’s typically up to the facility itself. Most assisted living facilities will accept anyone over the age of around 60 or 65. However, it’s common for most residents to be in their 80s or 90s.  

According to the American Health Care Association, half of all assisted living residents are 85 or older. About 30 percent are between the ages of 75 and 85, 10 percent are between 65 to 75, and 10 percent are younger than 65. 

As you can see, there’s no real particular cutoff with assisted living requirements, but that’s by design. Assisted living communities have to meet the various needs of all their residents. That means accepting residents of differing ages and ability levels.  

Because of this, it may be more difficult to determine when your loved one has crossed over into needing assistance on a day-to-day level. However, it also means that they can get precisely the care they need without having to worry about whether they meet certain assisted living requirements. 

If you’re ready to explore the assisted living options for your loved one, contact the experts at The Moments. We’re an award-winning senior living community for the elderly. Our approach is designed to give your loved one precisely what they need on a day-to-day basis. Contact us or schedule a tour to begin.