You know your loved one better than anyone. Deciding they may need support beyond what you can provide is a difficult decision. If you’re struggling to get mom or dad the care they need, assisted living facilities are a solid option.

According to studies, about 7 in 10 Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care. Assisted living facilities like Grand Oaks are perfect for seniors who value their independence yet need personal assistance with daily activities. Making a move to assisted living may feel intimidating or overwhelming, especially as a caregiver, but these 10 benefits can help you and your loved one look forward to a beautiful new chapter.

1. Personalized care
   Assisted living facilities focus on each individual’s experiences, unique health needs, and personal preferences. Assisted living staff get to know each resident, making them feel at home, understanding the support they need, and creating the optimum environment for achieving that. This may include 24/7 nursing care, medication administration, or mood and behavior monitoring. It’s a holistic approach to your loved one’s senior care.
2. Hands-on assistance with daily activities
   Residents of assisted living facilities are independent in many ways, so the range and level of support needed vary from person to person. As your loved one ages, they may need help with daily activities like housekeeping, transportation, bathing, dressing, hygiene, and laundry. That’s where assisted living facilities can help. Staff provides respectful, hands-on assistance with dignity. Perhaps your loved one needs help walking or support related to memory loss or respite care. Whether your loved one needs help regularly or as needed, there’s an assisted living community to meet their needs.
3. Safety and security
   As a caregiver, one of your top priorities for your loved one is safety. When driving becomes unsafe, or you worry about their safety while cooking alone at home, it’s time to start thinking about assisted living facilities. Communities like Grand Oaks create a culture of safety—it’s transparent from their staff-to-patient ratio, compliance with procedures, training, and skills, to a community design that prevents falls, emergency preparedness plans, secure access, and more. Many apartments also include safety features to alert for immediate help if needed, plus more responsive care and monitoring, especially for memory care residents.
4. Social activities and engagement
   Harvard School of Public Health researchers found that older adults in the U.S. with an active social life may have a slower rate of memory decline. Regular social activity prevents isolation and depression and improves quality of life. There’s never a dull moment at Grand Oaks. Like many assisted living communities, we offer plenty of daily, weekly, and monthly activities to keep the mind and body healthy. Your loved one will enjoy a mix of social activities like book clubs and weekly socials or participate in art therapy and gardening—life-enriching activities that reflect their interests, meet their wellness goals, and encourage lasting friendships with fellow residents and staff.
5. Access to healthcare facilities
   As your loved one ages, they might need 24-hour nursing care. Assisted living facilities offer quality healthcare on-site, using an aging well model that looks at physical, mental, and overall well-being. Grand Oaks, for example, provides access to on-site Johns Hopkins Wellness Program and direct access to Sibley Memorial Hospital’s emergency, aquatic, and therapeutic and rehabilitation services. It’s accessible to your loved one without ever stepping foot outside. On-site healthcare access complements the care your loved one is already receiving and offers thorough, comprehensive attention to their unique medical needs.
6. Comfortable, home-like setting
   Nurturing and peaceful is the goal. Your loved one’s assisted living community should look and feel like home. Ideal assisted living facilities are comfortable and calming while providing access to communal areas, outdoor settings, and more. Your loved one may even have access to many of the same luxuries and amenities they’d experience living at home, including chapel services, business center, beauty salon, and more.
7. Independence and fun
   While advanced personal care is available in assisted living, your loved one doesn’t necessarily need to use these services if they don’t need them. Assisted living allows your loved one to live freely but also access amenities and services that make life easier and safer. Perhaps your parent is at the age where they do not want to maintain a large home. They may be aging and need additional services in the future and find solace in many of the services available in an assisted living community, should they need them later. Think of assisted living as a step above a retirement community but not a nursing home or hospital setting. Your loved one will live independently with physical and mental autonomy while surrounding themselves in a caring, uplifting community.
8. More free time
   When your loved one moves to assisted living, they don’t have to worry about things like housework or home maintenance. Heavy cleaning, cooking, shoveling snow, maintaining the yard—these are all activities of the past. Especially if your loved one is struggling to do these activities or they’ve become a health hazard, the hassle-free benefit of assisted living is perfect for seniors as they age.
9. Nutrition and dining options
   Assisted living meals are designed specifically for senior health and nutrition. Talented executive chefs prepare meals that aren’t just rich in nutrients but packed with healthy, fresh ingredients and delicious too. The dining experience can’t be beaten either. At Grand Oaks, residents choose their seating, mealtimes, and menu preferences. They eat what they want when they want. The menu is full of tasty options that rotate daily for variety. Our elegant dining room encourages mealtime with friends, so dinner is a social (not a solo) event for your loved one.
10. Peace of mind
    Studies show that family caregivers experience stress that can take as many as 10 years off their life. As a caregiver, have you experienced bouts of depression, poor eating habits, health complications, or financial strain? Above all, the greatest benefit of assisted living is peace of mind. When you know your loved one is happy, healthy, and safe, you can enjoy life instead of worrying 24/7 about their care. You’ll rest easy knowing your loved one is well cared for and comfortable in a community where staff and residents are there for them and their needs. This same peace of mind is felt by your loved one, too.