What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living facilities balance independence with daily support. They are meant for individuals who enjoy living independently, but might need assistance with certain aspects of day-to-day life. Assisted living facilities offer varying degrees of support for residents – everything from preparing food to helping with bathing and medication administration, if needed.

A good assisted living community will make a personalized care plan – tailored to your specific needs – accommodating your challenges, but giving you the freedom to do what you can for yourself.

Click here to find out about daily life at The Gardens at Columbine.

Is Assisted Living Right For You?

There are many reasons to move from your home to an assisted living facility.  Contrary to what you might assume, assisted living can be great, even for those people who have good health and a mostly autonomous lifestyle. 

Ask yourself these questions to help determine if you might wish to make the move:

• Do you need more assistance at home than what friends and family are able to offer? Friends and family offer invaluable support as you age.  But at a certain point you’ll likely need more help than they can offer. Assisted living gives you the opportunity to get more support without isolating you from your family.
• Do you feel isolated or lonely at home? With reduced mobility comes a certain isolation, which often leads to depression.  Having an active social life ensures mental health and happiness.  Assisted living offers not only daily support but also a vibrant social life.
• Are you tired of cleaning and maintaining your home?  The daily chores that used to be easy can become major inconveniences as you age. Cooking, cleaning, coordinating bills and maintaining the house become more daunting challenges instead of pleasurable activities. Assisted living lets you focus on the important things in life!
• Are you worried for your safety? With reduced mobility comes a natural concern about safety.  What if you are injured and can’t get to the phone? What if you fall and can’t get up? As these questions arise it may be time to consider assisted living options – where your safety is a priority 24 hours a day.

Signs That a Loved One May Need Assisted Living

Are you concerned that your parent or loved one may require more help than you can offer yourself? Confronting this change can be both the most difficult and most important step in your relationship with your parent.  

Often adult children still see their parents as the strong and competent people they were years ago. It’s hard to confront the fact that your parent may not be able to care for him or herself anymore.  But it is important to remember that admitting your parent needs more help is the best thing you can do for him or her.

Here are some signs that may indicate your parent needs an assisted living community:

• Your parent is depressed or spends most of his or her time alone at home.  Lack of social life may be an indication that living alone is no longer the best scenario.  Remember that it is normal to be depressed after the passing of a spouse, but if this depression persists for years then there may be a deeper issue.
• The refrigerator is empty or filled with spoiled food. This may be a sign that eating and food preparation is too difficult for your parent.  You may also notice your parent losing weight.
• You notice frequent bruises or cuts.  As your parent ages she may become frail and weak. Frequent bruises may be an indication that she is shaky on her feet or having balance problems.  Realize that your parent may try to cover up these bruises or reply evasively when you ask what happened.
• Your parent wears the same clothes for days on end. This may be an indication that doing laundry is becoming difficult.  You may also notice that his or her clothes are dirty.
• The house and yard are no longer well-kept and clean.  This may be an indication that your parent can no longer do the cleaning work and—what’s worse—doesn’t notice that it’s a problem.
• Your parent has trouble remembering to take medications. Some forgetfulness is common among the elderly—it’s when the forgetfulness threatens their health that it becomes serious.
• Your parent says things that don’t make sense or are out of context. This may be an indication that your parent is experiencing confusion and may no longer be able to care for him or herself.

Overview of Services Offered

The Gardens at Columbine offers renowned assisted living services for the elderly of Colorado.  We offer a continuum of care, tailored specifically to each person’s needs.

• Medication administration
• 24-hour licensed nurses
• 24-hour security and emergency services
• Three delicious meals prepared daily
• Transportation for shopping, medical appointments and other outings
• Social and recreational activities
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• Wellness and exercise programs
• Assistance with such daily living activities as bathing, dressing and escorting as needed

Assisted living for older adults can be exciting and refreshing.  At The Gardens at Columbine we strive to make life comfortable and exhilarating for our residents.  Find out more about our services, or come for a visit.  Contact The Gardens at Columbine.

For more information about therapy services, please contact Legacy Healthcare Services.