Monday, March 31, 2014

What You Need To Know About Moving Into Assisted Living Facilities In Maine

By Kendra Hood


If you are a senior citizen who wants to reside in a facility that can provide you with minor medical monitoring and medical care, you can opt for assisted living. Assisted living facilities in Maine are state regulated and they offer many services. They are a unique place for people with mild health problems to reside in. These facilities are also referred to as adult foster homes, adult care homes, resident care homes and congregate care communities.

Adult foster homes are of different sizes. Some are small residential homes while others are large facilities that cater for needs of hundreds of residents. In large communities, residents have private apartments. Residential care communities do not have the specialized medical equipment available in nursing homes but they employ qualified staff to help residents perform various tasks. These staff members are available at any time of the day or night.

Most residential care homes charge monthly fees for their services and accommodation. Some of the services they offer include bathing assistance, laundry, meals, medication management, escorts to activities and insulin injections by RNs. Some communities have a number of amenities such as swimming pools and on site beauty parlors among others. They also have a central dining area, kitchen and common areas for socializing.

Most of the residents of residential care homes are senior citizens who have minor health problems caused by aging, disease or injury. Most of them need help with performing activities of daily living like eating, getting dressed, walking and bathing among others. Some of them also have problems with their mental health. These facilities offer them the comfort and medical care they need to live dignified lives.

Some adult care homes also serve younger individuals such as those who have impaired cognitive function. Most people move into these communities with the intent of residing in them on a long term basis. However, assisted living communities also provide residents with short term care.

Some doctors also use adult care homes as outpatient treatment centers after a patient has undergone surgery. This applies to patients who need help completing activities of daily living until the recover from the medical procedure. After recovering, they return to their permanent places of residence.

When moving to a residential care facility, you may feel stressed due to the major changes you have to make in your lifestyle. You may feel anxious about making the move since you may worry about whether you will lose your freedom, if your family members will visit you often or if you will be able to adapt to residing in such a facility. However, if you plan early and prepare yourself mentally, this process will be less stressful.

Another thing to you can do to ease the process of moving to an adult care home is to familiarize yourself with the facility you want to move to. Get adequate information about it such as how the members of staff treat residents before you move. After you adapt to your new lifestyle, your anxiety, fear or worries will end.




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