Assisted Living Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Ventana Winds Retirement Community

If you may be wondering or searching for “what is assisted living”, this post will help answer some of your questions. When it comes to you or your loved one entering assisted living, it is good to know an idea what you are walking into.

Assisted Living Communities

Many see assisted living as being the best of both worlds. A resident is allowed to have as much independence as they want while also knowing that personal support and care services are there if they are needed. Assisted living communities have been designed in order to provide a person with assistance with basic daily living activities like dressing, bathing, grooming and much more. There are some states that let assisted living provide medication reminders or assistance. These communities are much different from a nursing home because they do not provide any complex medical services.

These communities range from a single residence to be a single care level in a continuing care retirement community. The whole physical environment of assisted living is quite appealing to both the families and potential residents. These communities are able to offer a home like atmosphere with apartments that include either a one bedroom or studio model. The kitchenettes will normally have a microwave and small refrigerator.

Who will need assisted living?

Residents will normally be seniors who have started to decline in health and are needing assistance with one or more daily living activities. Seniors who are wanting to live within a social environment with very little responsibility as well as a place where care can be easily accessed when it is needed are the seniors that you will find within assisted living. Statistically, common residents are often females within their mid-80’s.

The difference between Assisted Living, Independent Living and Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are for those older adults that will require constant and higher-level care than those who live in assisted living communities. Nursing homes have staffed nurses 24 hours per day.

Independent living is a care level that is below assisted living. These communities are a form of housing that has been targeted to a senior who is over 55 years of age. Independent living can have apartments or even single-family homes or a townhouse. Normally, there will be activities planned for the residents as well as some assistance with yard work or other maintenance. The residents are able to maintain as much independence as possible and can still perform daily living activities.

What happens when the level of care needs to be increased?

Most communities will let the resident age within the community. They can do this because most have on-site care and if not, they will work with local providers so that the residents are able to stay within the community as the care level increases. It is this type of care that will be paid in addition to the rent and will vary based on the care that is needed.

Types of Amenities and Activities in Assisted Living Communities

Normally, all assisted living communities will offer prepared meals 3 times per day and help with laundry and light housekeeping. Based on the community, a resident could have access to transportation, the post office, beauty salons, swimming pools and fitness centers. There are also some communities that will plan trips, events and activities that a resident can be a part of which range from concerts to happy hour. These communities range from a large campus to a small home, and so the amenities will vary based on the community. Another aspect that needs to be mentioned is that many communities will recognize that keeping a pet is important for a resident, and so some communities will let the resident bring a pet as long as they can take care of it.

How are these communities regulated?

These communities are regulated at a state level. It is because of this that each state will have policies that will regulate and define what services and care are needed for assisted living communities to meet the standards for the state. The state will set the regulations to make assisted living different from any other care facility. Some states may even monitor are safety, food, providers and care provided.

How much will assisted living cost?

The average for a private, one-bedroom apartment in these communities will run about $3100 per month or around $36,000 per year. These prices are around the cost of living in various areas. The price will change based on the room sizes; for instance a shared apartment is going to be less expensive and a larger apartment or two-bedroom apartment is going to be much more expensive.

How to pay for assisted living

Assisted living is paid using private funds but there are some exceptions. There may be insurance policies that will cover assisted living. Check the insurance policy to see if it will be covered. If the resident is a military veteran or is the veteran’s spouse, they may qualify for veteran’s benefits which will pay for the community. In some states, Medicaid waivers and funds can be used to help cover assisted living.

Assisted Living in Youngtown, Arizona by Ventana Winds Retirement

Ventana Winds is an assisted living facility in Youngtown, Arizona. To schedule a tour of our assisted living facility, contact SLS Communities or for more information please call us today at 623-323-1796.

what is arthritis

Are you wondering “what is arthritis?” This post can help you broaden your understanding of what arthritis is, and what actions you can take to help prohibit or slow the beginning of arthritis. Medical care can vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main purpose of arthritis treatment is to lessen the symptoms and enhance the quality of life.

Just What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is not that rare but it is still not fully understood. Obviously, “arthritis” is not a particular disease; it is a just a simple way of referring to joint disease and/ or pain. There are more than 100 distinctive types of arthritis and associated conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is the main cause of disability in the U.S. At the minimum, approximately 50 million adults and around 300,000 children have some form of arthritis. It is more common among women and develops more often as people get older.

Some more common arthritis symptoms include the swelling of joints, pain, reduced range of motion and stiffness. These arthritis symptoms can come and go. They can range from minor or moderate and in certain cases severe. They may be continual for years, but may advance or worsen as time goes on. Acute arthritis can bring about chronic pain, the inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. Arthritis can also lead to long lasting joint changes. These effects can be noticeable, such as contorted finger joints, but usually the impairment can only be seen by X-ray. Some types of arthritis can also affect the eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin including the joints.

There Are Numerous Types Of Arthritis:

Degenerative Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is one the most common types of arthritis. When the cartilage in the middle of the bones wears away, the bones start rubbing together, creating swelling, stiffness and pain. As time goes on, the joints will lose their toughness and pain can become incessant. Some factors can involve excess weight, family history, age or a prior injury, like an ACL injury.

When the symptoms of osteoarthritis are mild or bearable, they can be handled by:

Balancing exercise with plenty of rest
Utilizing hot and cold therapy
Routine physical activities
Keeping a normal weight
Strengthening the muscles around the joints
Using equipment for support
Taking OTC pain medications or anti-inflammatory treatments
Avoiding to many repeated movements

If joint symptoms start to become more severe, causing restricted mobility and most important, affecting the quality of life, many of the above plans of action may be helpful, but joint replacement may also be unavoidable.

Osteoarthritis can hampered by continuing to stay active, managing a healthy diet and weight, and preventing injury and repetitive motions.

Inflammatory Arthritis

A strong, healthy immune system is very defensive. It develops internal inflammation to get rid of any infection and curb disease. But every now and then the immune system can get unstable, mistakenly attacking the joints with uncontrolled inflammation, maybe causing joint erosion and may damage internal organs, the eyes or other parts of the body. Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are some types of inflammatory arthritis. Researchers believe that a blend of genetics and environmental factors can cause autoimmunity. Smoking is a prime example of an environmental risk factor that can trigger rheumatoid arthritis in people with certain genetics.

With autoimmune and inflammatory types of arthritis, early diagnosis and intrusive treatment are very important factors. Hindering the disease activity can help cut down or even prevent long lasting joint damage from developing. Remission is the main objective and may be reached with the use of one or more medications recognized as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or DMARDs. The main intention of treatment is to reduce the pain, increase function, and limit further joint damage.

Infectious Arthritis

Fungus, bacteria, and viruses can invade the joint and cause inflammation. Some examples of organisms that can infect joints are salmonella and shigella (food poisoning or food contamination), Chlamydia and gonorrhea (STDs) and hepatitis C (a blood to blood infection, most likely through sharing needles or blood transfusions). In some cases, prompt treatment with antibiotics may clear up the joint infection, but sometimes the arthritis can become chronic.

Metabolic Arthritis

Uric acid is created as the body breaks down purines, a substance found in human cells and also in many foods. Some people have higher levels of uric acid because they naturally generates more than what is needed or the body can’t get rid of the uric acid fast enough. In some people, the uric acid builds up and forms needle-like crystals in the joint, resulting in sudden spikes of severe joint pain, or a gout bombardment. Gout can come and go in bouts or, if the uric acid levels aren’t decreased, it can become chronic, causing continuing pain and disability.

Diagnosing Arthritis

Arthritis diagnosis, in most cases begins with a primary care physician, who will perform a physical exam, blood tests and an MRI or X-rays, to determine what type of arthritis it is. A rheumatologist or arthritis expert should be involved if the analysis is unclear or if the arthritis may be inflammatory. Rheumatologists mostly manage continuous treatment for inflammatory arthritis, types of gout and other complicated cases. Orthopedic surgeons can carry out joint surgery, as well as replacing joints. When the arthritis affects other parts of the body or systems, other specialists, may also be needed.

What Can Be Done About Arthritis?

There are a lot of steps that can be taken to manage normal joint function, the ability to be mobile and quality of life. Understanding more about the disease and its treatment choices, making more time for physical activities and maintain a healthy weight is important. Arthritis is a largely misinterpreted disease.

Retirement Communities Arizona

If it is time for a change, contact us at SLS Communities about what location is best for your loved one. Give Ventana Winds Retirement Community a call today at 623-323-1796 or schedule a free tour at our facility.

What is Assisted Living?