In the 1960s, the Nursing Home Standards Guide was issued, setting regulatory standards and outlining recommendations for all federally licensed facilities. Since then, senior living communities have seen many changes and trends come and go. Assisted Living Trends to Leave Behind These three assisted living trends may be best left behind: 1. Cafeteria-Style Dining Dining is a very important element in the lifestyle of assisted living residents. Alternative options to the basic buffet or cafeteria-sty...
North American seniors are living healthier, longer lives than any generation that has come before them. Why are aging adults experiencing fewer physical ailments and more disability-free years? According to a recent Harvard study, “one of the most powerful contributors is improved medical treatment, especially better cardiovascular health and vision care.” As Americans continue to shift towards healthy aging, goals for retirement and senior living have shifted as well. Seniors in North America expec...
Making the decision to move your spouse to an assisted living community can be incredibly difficult, especially if that move does not include you. Some common emotional challenges include accepting the reality that their care needs are beyond your ability to manage at home, coming to terms with your spouse’s declining health and in some cases coping with the fact that you can no longer live with the person you love. While moving your spouse into an assisted living community may feel like too much emo...
According to a recent study published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, from January-June 2017, roughly 1 in 5 adults over the age of 85 – or 21.7% – needed assistance to perform activities of daily living (ADL). This data showcases a dramatic need compared to groups of younger seniors who were studied; in comparison, less than half of seniors aged 75-84 (8.5%) needed ADL help, while less than 1 in 6 seniors aged 65-74 (3.4%) required assistance. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Assis...
Voyage, a Silicon Valley-based startup company and The Villages, known as “Florida’s friendliest active adult community,” have announced an exciting new pilot project, resulting in the launch of an autonomous – or self-driving – taxi service available to residents within the 40 square mile bounds of the community. According to the Voyage website, “the Voyage Pilot Program involves a select group of residents who will participate in testing a self-driving taxi service within The Villages. ...
For many seniors, it can be difficult to hear amidst the bustle of an active senior living community. Even with hearing aids, participating in activities that rely on sound, like dances, movies and presentations can be frustrating. Fortunately, a new hearing device is reducing these frustrations. Eversound’s new hearing system is designed specifically to provide older adults with an enhanced listening experience compared with conventional hearing aids. It is simple to set up and use, and is int...
There is no shortage of high-end assisted living options in the United States. There are beautiful grounds, gourmet dining and spacious apartments, with a costly price tag attached. However, there are far fewer options available for older adults with less discretionary income. After two years of research on the unmet needs of the middle-income market, The Branches of North Attleboro, a new Benchmark Senior Living community in North Attleboro, Massachusetts is attempting to change this. The community ...
Artificial intelligence is far more beneficial and interesting than what is portrayed by film and television characters and actually has the potential to change the way in which we provide care in assisted living communities for the better. How AI Is Changing Assisted Living Forbes’ “How Could Artificial Intelligence Change Assisted Living Facilities?” points out that assisted living communities “face a number of challenges” that A.I. could help solve, problems like: Client accidents, inc...
A Harvard University study of over 250,000 seniors aged 65 years and older has revealed that not only are American seniors living longer, they are also leading more active and healthier lives. With more active seniors and a wave of baby boomers approaching retirement age, it’s no wonder there’s been an explosion in the development of resort-style communities. On Long Island, for example, this “niche market has ‘exploded’ for both sales and rental developments,” the New York Times reports, estimating ...