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Do you know around 4% of US seniors live in nursing homes? However, transitioning from your home to a nursing facility is complicated. Therefore, choosing the right long-term care facility for your loved one can be challenging and overwhelming.
However, it’s one of the most popular choices among seniors, especially the ones who cannot stay with their families and need additional care and support. A skilled nursing facility, also commonly known as a nursing home, is a licensed residential facility that provides on-site qualified care for people who need a higher level of attention and support than those at an assisted living facility.
Therefore, for older adults, the transition turns out to be highly beneficial with numerous health benefits. This article will explore the seven health benefits of living in a nursing home that can positively impact your loved one’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Medical Care And Supervision
Living in a nursing home ensures access to regular medical care and supervision from qualified healthcare professionals. Skilled nursing staff are available around the clock to monitor residents’ health conditions, administer medication, and provide assistance as required. Moreover, most skilled nursing homes work in collaboration with a quality long-term care pharmacy that helps provide patients with quick and consistent access to proper medication.
Constant medical attention helps prevent and manage chronic illnesses, detect potential health issues early, and facilitate prompt medical intervention, especially for unstable residents requiring urgent medication delivery. Similarly, nursing homes prioritize regular check-ups, ensuring residents stay on top of their healthcare needs.
Social Engagement
Another major advantage of nursing homes is their built-in social support system. Most often, adults face the problem of isolation and loneliness. As soon as they retire and move away from their children, it becomes difficult for them to participate in different social engagements, leading to poorer health and adverse mental and physical health effects.
However, when your loved ones become a part of a living facility, they get a lively community to engage with. Most nursing homes foster social interaction through planned activities, communal dining areas, and shared spaces, promoting a vibrant social atmosphere. Thus, engaging with peers helps combat loneliness, boosts mood and cognitive function, and encourages a sense of belonging and community among residents.
Safety And Reduced Risk Of Injury
Typically, older adults have a list of injuries to recover from. Their bodies weaken, which can take a toll on them in later years. Also, when they live in family homes, they risk worsening their injuries, tripping, falling, or otherwise injuring themselves, as these places are not specifically designed for seniors. However, nursing homes are designed with safety in mind.
They incorporate features such as handrails, non-slip flooring, accessible bathrooms, and emergency call systems to minimize the risk of accidents, especially falls. Trained staff members are readily available to assist residents with mobility, reducing the likelihood of falls and providing immediate aid in case of emergencies. Such preventive measures create a secure environment that enhances residents’ physical well-being and reduces the anxiety associated with living alone.
Personalized Care
Every nursing home resident has specific needs. For instance, elders with serious chronic conditions may need constant medical assistance. Similarly, those coping with various mental struggles, like memory loss, may require specialized care and nursing. With a team of specialized and skilled nurses, every older adult gets the proper attention they need in a nursing home.
Personalized care plans that are in place cater to their specific needs and preferences. The staff also provides emotional support and targeted medical attention for effective treatment. Moreover, personalized care encourages residents to maintain a healthier lifestyle; from regular exercise to nutrition plans, it leads to improved mobility, reduced risk of chronic diseases or feelings of loneliness, and overall better health management.
In other words, it’s a win-win for both parties as you know your loved ones are in good hands while the residents get the care they need.
Physical Activity And Rehabilitation
Most nursing homes offer fitness and rehabilitation programs. The programs are designed to meet each resident’s capabilities and needs. They include physical therapy, exercise classes, and wellness activities to improve strength, balance, and mobility. Regular physical activity can enhance cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and joints, improve flexibility, and reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
Moreover, such rehabilitation services help expedite recovery from surgeries, injuries, or medical conditions. Similarly, these activities allow residents to engage with peers, form meaningful connections, and expand their social circle.
Dietary Plans
For aging individuals, maintaining a well-balanced diet becomes challenging. A lack of dietary support leads to nutritional deficiencies and several health issues. However, nursing homes prioritize their residents’ nutrition and food intake and provide carefully planned and nutritionally balanced meals.
Dietary professionals in nursing homes work closely with residents to prepare a personalized diet plan, catering to their specific needs and providing the kind and types of food they need to stay energized and healthy. As residents get regular access to various nutritious meals, it protects their overall health, boosts their immune system, aids in managing chronic health conditions, and supports healthy aging.
Emergency Assistance
Last but not least, skilled nursing facilities have emergency medical centers on board. If your loved one gets injured, you can rest assured they get the treatment immediately. These facilities also call ambulances to transport residents to a hospital if required.
Similarly, most senior living facilities have emergency help buttons available throughout the facility, making it easier to call for timely help. So your aging loved ones get a much better chance of seeking help and surviving injuries at a nursing home than living alone.
The Final Words
Choosing an elder care service provides various health benefits for older adults. From comprehensive medical care to social engagement, nutritious meals, physical activity programs, and safety protocols to emergency assistance, nursing homes offer a supportive environment that enhances residents’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
So consider the above-discussed health benefits and make an informed decision about the senior care options so that you can be at peace while improving the life and overall health of your loved ones. Good luck.
