Assisted living provides your loved one with 24/7 support and help with daily activities. This ensures that they feel safe and secure, and you get the peace of mind knowing they are well cared for. It can be dangerous for your aging loved ones to live alone. Consider assisted living if you find caring for them at home impossible.

Physical Security

All top-tier assisted living facilities adhere to strict fire safety standards. This includes alarm systems that alert staff if the building is breached, marked and accessible exits, and regularly scheduled and practiced evacuation drills. Other physical infrastructure features keep residents safe, too. For example, grab bars and raised toilets make it easier for seniors to use the restroom without straining their muscles or falling. Non-slip floors, motion-detector lighting and natural daylight contribute to overall safety. When researching options, tour the facilities in your area with your loved one to get a feel for them and ask lots of questions if you can. Visit several times and talk with the staff, residents and their families. Also, go for meals to see what the dining experience is like. Meals, housekeeping and transportation services are typically included in an assisted living facility’s room and board cost.

Monitoring

Facilities like those at St. Augustine assisted living create a safety culture by understanding each resident’s unique health needs and preferences. From 24/7 staffing and medication administration to mood and behavior monitoring, this holistic approach sets top-tier facilities apart. As such, they take various precautions to keep residents safe, including installing physical infrastructure like grip bars in bathtubs and showers and raised toilets to prevent falls. These are complemented by ongoing monitoring of communal areas, individual apartments and rooms to avoid unwanted entry or exit, and alarm systems for residents prone to wandering (such as those with dementia). As you tour different facilities, ask questions about these safety features. Also, try to visit several times – unannounced, if possible – and speak with current residents to get their perspective. This way, you’ll have a more accurate picture of the facilities in your search for senior care.

Security Cameras

The security features of a senior living community are important to ensure the safety of residents, but it’s also essential for them to feel safe in their surroundings. Surroundings designed with seniors’ safety in mind include wider hallways, walk-in showers and accessible door handles and light switches. Cameras can help uncover security risks that may be overlooked when staff members are present, such as unauthorized visitors in restricted areas. They can also provide proof in an incident like abuse or neglect. However, privacy concerns are a factor regarding surveillance cameras in assisted living facilities. For example, residents may want their moments to be kept from being recorded, including bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. Open communication and transparency around the use of these cameras help alleviate these concerns.

Emergency Response

When it’s time for your elderly loved one to get extra help with daily tasks, assisted living is a safe and affordable option. Residents receive personal care services tailored to their needs, including prepared meals, housekeeping, transportation, healthcare and security. Most communities are constructed and operated to comply with state regulations regarding safety. These safety measures may include an emergency response plan, staffing and training, community design to prevent falls, and more. Emergency response is important to ensure your loved one is well cared for in an incident or natural disaster. It includes promptly calling emergency services, evacuation procedures, protective actions for life safety and accounting of all employees during the event. This is done to minimize damage, loss of lives and distress to the residents. It also ensures that they will be safely evacuated if required. The plan also includes procedures for assessing and salvaging undamaged property and providing ongoing care after an emergency.