At one time in our history, people that were getting on in years were just sent out to pasture to be all by themselves. That was extraordinarily inhumane.
And then it became the norm for families to care for the members of the older generation no matter what the consequences.
But nowadays, the world of senior assisted living has made this part of family life a little different than it used to be.
For some, the idea of moving into a retirement home is almost horrific. The tales we all hear, about elder abuse and the news stories that seem to flash on the TV screen from time to time make it seem like seniors are taken advantage of by almost everyone.
Nothing could be farther from the truth and the simple fact is that most retirement facilities whether they are communities like small villages or apartments for senior housing or even room settings like in a hospital, are staffed by great and caring human beings.
And the assisted lying places are at the top of the list for being full of personnel who take the time that every resident needs to manage his or her daily activities. The generation of today's seniors is the folks who went to Beatles concerts and war protests. The same people who organized sit ins and fought against the military industrial complex.
Those are today's older people, and the idea that any of them would settle for any second rate treatment in an assisted living facility is just ludicrous.
The term assisted means simply that. That if you live there, you can get help with the things you need help with. And your privacy is respected so that you can take care of things you can do on your own without interference.
Many times this kind of facility offers help with the giving of medications when needed, or providing meals or help in maintaining the living areas. Simple things like running the vacuum cleaner or help with dusting, things like that. But the hallmark of assisted living arrangement is independence.
The seniors deserve independence because they sure have earned it. And if someone only needs help with taking their medications a couple of times a day, then that's what they get. An offer to help with anything else, of course, but no bullying by the staff to make the senior more reliant on outside help.
If you are considering a senior assisted living type of arrangement for yourself or for someone you love, take few minutes and check out the offerings on the internet. You will be quite amazed at the high quality of what you find there.
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