Generations was founded on a belief in the need for quality assistance in senior care and a passion for serving the older population with integrity and heart. Some decades later, we still believe adamantly in providing services that directly address all of the needs of seniors in our ever-changing social culture. But what are these needs?
I recently sat down with a group of residents currently residing at Generations Senior Living and asked them a simple, yet difficult question, “What do you believe are the most important concerns older adults face today?”
Here is what they said.
We worry about our general health. We struggle more and more with mobility as time passes and we fear falling. We worry about what the future will bring, how our physical abilities may further decline.
We struggle with loneliness and homesickness. Mobility troubles can make it harder to get out and it becomes harder to socialize. It is hard when we no longer live with our families, when they move or pass away, when they build their own families.
Sometimes, we don’t have a voice in our families, in society, or in our own lives. We fear we won’t be heard.
The principles behind assisted living are meant to help cope with these very concerns. One way that we like to look at the care we provide is “independent living, with backup.” We aim to provide personalized assistance that helps keep our residents as independent as possible for as long as possible.
I asked the group if they felt that living at Generations helped put any of these concerns at ease.
One resident said she feared less for her mobility. She feels safer than alone at home and finds comfort knowing that there are always nurses and caregivers available.
Another said she was faking her mobility for a long time before moving in, always hiding her declining physicality from her family. Being at Generations, it feels like a burden has been lifted and she can enjoy her life without having to worry about her physical safety.
Others expressed that they have a voice at Generations. They can communicate with the staff and their families to create the living experience they want. In fact, at our last resident council meeting, one resident shared how greatly he appreciates that the residents always have the opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, and that these things are welcomed.
Most importantly, all the residents agreed that they love the sense of community living at Generations. They have the chance to share and socialize with others right within their home.
Concerns for these issues older adults face will always be present and will still at times become overwhelming. But when they do, our residents live in a community with 70+ people who share the same concerns, who know what transitioning to assisted living is like, and who are there to support each other.