Congregate care communities range in size from small residential homes for a few residents to large facilities that provide services to hundreds of residents. Seniors who reside in them usually have a private apartment. These facilities usually do not have the medical monitoring equipment found in nursing homes. Their trained members of staff are usually on site on a twenty four hour basis to assist residents to complete various tasks.
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.
Typically assisted living facilities are occupied by seniors with minor health problems. These problems can result from aging, injury or an ailment. Residents in these communities may find it difficult to complete activities of daily life such as walking, bathing, dressing and feeding. Their mental health may also have deteriorated. Adult care homes provide them with the comfort and medical attention they need to thrive.
Some congregate care homes serve younger people who have mental problems. Most people move into adult care homes with the intent of residing in such as peaceful, social setting for the rest of their lives. Nonetheless, many adult care homes in Maine also offer short term care.
Some physicians ask patients who have undergone medical procedures such as surgery to temporarily reside in adult care homes. These patients are able to get help with performing various tasks until they fully recover. They return to their homes after recovering.
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.
You can also overcome your anxiety and fear of moving to an assisted living facility by getting to know more about the facility, its staff members and adopting a new lifestyle. After you adapt to your new lifestyle, the anxiety, stress or fear you previously had will subside. Moving from your home to a residential care facility will be easy if you know a lot about a particular facility and its atmosphere.