What Is Assisted Living? Services, Benefits, and Care Options

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau (2023), adults 65 years and older account for 19.2% of Wisconsin's population. The Badger State's population is over 5.89 million, so over 1.13 million seniors call the state home!

As Wisconsin's older adult population expands, so does the need for reliable, high-quality senior care options offering compassionate assisted living. With the help of these elder support services, older adults can get the extra help they need to thrive and live their golden years to the fullest.

But what is assisted living, and what exactly does a community offering this type of senior care and housing option provide? What benefits do they bring to the table?

Join us today at LakeHouse Fond du Lac, our assisted living community in Fond du Lac, WI, as we share insights answering those questions in this guide.

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a type of senior living option offering support and care for older adults who need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) but can still live independently.

Communities offering assisted living services in Fond du Lac, WI, have trained staff who provide residents with individualized personal care plans. Tailoring these services to each older adult's specific needs allows them to get the help they need when they need it while letting them continue enjoying the things they can still do independently.

What Senior Care Options Does an Assisted Living Community Provide?

An assisted living community like LakeHouse Fond du Lac can help seniors who need an extra helping hand with ADLs like:

Bathing
Medication management
Continence care
Nutritious meal planning and provision

Let's explore how and why the above matters to older adults.

Bathing and Personal Hygiene

Bathing is one of the most crucial ADLs for seniors because it promotes proper hygiene, which is essential for wellness and overall health. The U.S. CDC explains that good hygiene practices lead to good health and help enhance cleanliness.

However, many older adults may struggle with bathing and personal hygiene due to:

Physical limitations (e.g., reduced mobility or muscle weakness)
Fear of slipping and falling
Sensory changes, such as a decreased sense of smell

Living alone may also contribute to a lack of personal hygiene, as no one else may notice or remind an older adult to shower or bathe.

At LakeHouse Fond du Lac, our team of personal care providers is always ready to help older adults with their bathing and hygiene needs. We treat all our senior residents with the compassion and respect they deserve to maintain their dignity.

Medication Management

As an article from Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, most Americans take at least one prescription drug by the time they hit their 60s. Around one in three U.S. adults in their 60s and 70s use at least five regularly.

While medicines can help manage health conditions, they can fail to work as they should or cause adverse effects if misused. Such problems may occur when seniors:

Forget to take their medicines on time
Fail to take the correct dosage
Take multiple doses (such as if they forgot they've already taken one)

A highly reliable assisted living community helps combat such risks by providing medication management assistance. For example, at LakeHouse Fond du Lac, we help our residents stay on top of their medicines by:

Overseeing medication schedules
Providing daily medication
Preparing and administering medications

Continence Care

Continence care refers to the management and supportive services offered by an assisted living community to residents with incontinence. Incontinence is an uncontrolled leakage of urine affecting around 30% of older adults, according to HealthInAging.org.

At LakeHouse Fond du Lac, our personal care providers assist residents with incontinence by:

Getting them to and from the bathroom safely
Assisting with toileting routines
Maintaining proper hygiene to manage urinary or bowel leakage

Nutritious Meal Planning and Provision

Some seniors may struggle with nutritional needs as a result of age-related changes like:

Decreased appetite
Altered taste and smell
Physical limitations

Left unaddressed, such problems can lead to malnutrition and other health complications. The good news is that transitioning to a retirement community benefits seniors with these issues, as the community's culinary experts carefully plan and prepare healthy, well-balanced diets and meal plans. For example, at LakeHouse Fond du Lac, we have a talented chef who prepares and serves three meals daily in our inviting dining room.

When Does Choosing Assisted Living Make Sense?

To determine whether moving to an assisted living community in Fond du Lac, WI, is ideal, consider your (or your older loved one's) current and long-term health needs and well-being. Transitioning can be an excellent choice if you:

Need assistance with multiple ADLs
Have declining health
Have a chronic disease
Live alone
Want to live a maintenance-free lifestyle

What Are the Benefits of Moving to an Assisted Living Community?

Moving to an assisted living community provides many benefits, including:

Maintaining independence while getting support for ADLs
Reducing risks of medication errors that can give rise to adverse side effects
Getting access to many events and activities that promote socialization, recreation, and physical fitness
Peace of mind for family members, knowing their older loved one has access to necessary care and support
Saving precious time by having apartment homes cleaned and maintained by the community's professional staff
Enjoying access to numerous on-site amenities, such as laundry services, hair salon, activity room, and lounges

All those perks and pros can improve senior's well-being, enjoyment, and overall quality of life.

Live Life to the Fullest at LakeHouse Fond du Lac

Now that we've answered the question, "What is assisted living?" You can decide whether it can benefit you or an older loved one. If you need help with ADLs, have a chronic condition, or want to live a maintenance-free lifestyle, then yes, transitioning to assisted living is a wise choice.

If you or an aging family member is ready for tailored personal care and support delivered in a beautiful and caring environment, consider joining the LakeHouse Fond du Lac family. We welcome you with open arms and look forward to giving you the compassionate care and support you need to enjoy your golden years with fewer worries.