Assisted Living Benefits More Than Just Our Seniors

Most of the time, when people think about RAL (residential assisted living) we look at the benefits it typical provides to its residents: the seniors. 

In truth, though, benefits of assisted living extend far beyond just those of the aging population. It can be an incredible benefit for the typical family caregiver, especially the one who is feeling overwhelmed, run down, exhausted, and is losing focus.

The majority of senior care providers in the country are family members.

That’s because most family members see it as their responsibility to look after their aging loved ones. This might be a grandparent, parent, spouse, sibling, aunt or uncle, friend, or even a close neighbor. Many friends and neighbors consider one another family, even though they are not related. Whatever the relationship is, when somebody is acting as a caregiver for a member of their family or close friend, they often take on this responsibility out of a sense of duty, love, and compassion.

Those are all wonderful reasons to begin supporting a person who needs help, but what most of these family caregivers fail to realize is just how stressful and overwhelming it can be. The job is often viewed in the wrong context.

Being a caregiver is a job and, like any job, it requires consistency, dedication, and devotion. Putting all of your heart and soul into supporting this aging loved one because you want them to be safe, protected, and doing well in the comfort of their home often leaves the average family caregiver exhausted, run down, and facing stress he or she hadn’t experienced most of their life.

They need a break. Every family caregiver will, eventually, need a break the longer they do this type of work. They might not think so at first, but it is only a matter of time. That is where a quality assisted living facility can be instrumental: in providing the respite he or she requires.

How does an assisted living facility offer respite?

Most people would assume that when a senior chooses assisted living for their future, that they will be moving in there permanently. Wouldn’t that mean the family caregiver no longer has any responsibility whatsoever?

It might, if the elderly person chooses assisted living full-time. However, some quality assisted living facilities do provide care and support services for aging seniors during the day, for a few days during the week, and for other short-term durations.

You see, the benefits of assisted living certainly do extend beyond those most of us think about for the seniors themselves.

If you run your own RAL make sure you explain these additional benefits or market to the community about the additional benefits your RAL can make for family.