The care needs of the elderly
Typically a person living in an assisted living facility will be an older person who needs some help with everyday functions, which in the caring professions are known as ADLs, or activities of daily living.
ADL’s include what is known as basic ADLs, which are self-care tasks, like washing, dressing, and toileting, as well as things like simply getting out of bed or walking. They also include being able to eat independently. The norm is for a resident to need help with three such ADLs. What are known as instrumental ADL’s are abilities enabling a person to operate independently in modern society, such as being able to go shopping or preparing a meal. Those are the functions which assisted care exists to help with.
Statistics show that the most common age for a female resident is 87.3 years and for men, 85.7, reflecting the slighter longer average life-span still enjoyed by women. There are far more women than men resident in the facilities, perhaps as widows do outnumber widowers, and by far the greater number of residents are widowed ( only around 12% have a living spouse, or other partner).
Some residents will have more particular or greater needs than others, and facilities will vary in the extent to which they can manage these needs. Some will specialise and will be prepared to take somebody who is in the very early stages of dementia, while others will not. Clearly an assisted living facility will not be appropriate for someone in the advanced stages of Alzeimers, or someone who is a danger to themselves or others.
It is important not to leave the decision to go into a facility too long, as it may be easier to stay somewhere once accepted than it is to be accepted initially, when health has deteriorated.
Physical and practical help is often needed with the ADLs but often the most keenly felt need is that for companionship. Loneliness is common in old age, and if a person finds it hard for physical reasons to get out of the house to find company, it is a great thing for them to be able to find companionship actually within their place of residence. The isolation of living alone can lead to depression which in turn may lead to greater isolation.
