Personal Care Interventions At Nursing Homes And Assisted Living Facilities

Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities often require personal care assistance in order to effectively perform their activities of daily living. Residents of assisted living facilities are often more independent than residents of nursing homes, and because, of this, may only need minimal assistance with their personal care tasks. Here are some personal senior care interventions your aging loved one can benefit from while residing in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Bathing, Dressing, And Grooming

Your senior loved one may receive personal care interventions with bathing, dressing, and grooming. Depending on the level of assistance your loved one needs, the staff at the nursing home or assisted living facility may either just provide supervision and cues with these tasks or offer extensive assistance.

Not only might your loved one require personal care assistance because of their physical limitations, but they may also require assistance as a result of cognitive decline. If the aging adult is able, the staff at the facility will encourage them to be as independent as possible with their personal care because it can help enhance mobility, promote better cognitive function, and even raise the senior individual's self-esteem.

Meal Choices And Tray Set Up

The staff at the nursing home or assisted living facility may also help your loved one make the best meal choices and prepare the items on their tray so that eating and drinking are easier. For example, if your loved one has painful joints as a result of arthritis, then they may be unable to open the condiment packets on their tray such as ketchup and mustard. Similarly, they may also be unable to take the metal top off of the entree because of hand weakness.

The staff can also cut up the food on the tray, pour the beverages in cups and glasses, and open the resident's cereal box, pour it into the bowl, and add the milk. In addition, if the individual has swallowing problems because of a stroke or other neurological conditions, the staff will monitor them for signs of choking while eating and will immediately intervene. 

If your aging loved one resides in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you can rest assured that their personal care needs will be addressed. When aging adults get the necessary care they need, they can then focus on doing the things they enjoy such as socializing with other residents and simply enjoying the community atmosphere.