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What is assisted living?
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Assisted Living
communities such as New Horizons at Marlborough
and New Horizons in Woburn offer a unique combination
of housing and personalized care designed to
respond to the individual needs of those who
require, or may later require, assistance with
activities of daily living. A typical Assisted
Living residence offers a supportive, residential
setting for those who are unable to continue
to live alone, but do not need the 24-hour skilled
medical care of a nursing home.
All New Horizons Programs
include:
Three meals
daily, in delightful common dining rooms; light
housekeeping services; scheduled transportation;
24-hour on-duty staff; emergency call systems;
health promotion and exercise programs; and,
social and recreational activities. New Horizons'
third-party Assisted Living provider (Care Solutions,
Inc. at New Horizons at Marlborough and Winchester
Home Care at New Horizons at Choate) provides
assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, grooming,
toiletries, transferring and walking, as well
as medication management, all to varying degrees
as may be needed and arranged.
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The philosophy
of Assisted Living Care, as stated by the Assisted
Living Facilities Association of America is:
- Fostering independence for
each resident.
- Treating each resident with
dignity and respect.
- Promoting the individuality
of each resident.
- Allowing each resident's
choice of care and lifestyle.
- Protecting each resident's
right to privacy.
- Providing a safe residential
environment.
- Nurturing the spirit of
each resident.
- Making the Assisted Living
residence a valuable community.
- Offering cost effective
quality care that is personalized for individual
needs.
- Involving family and friends
in care planning and implementation
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How
to Determine If Assisted Living Would Fit Your
Needs
Assisted Living
may be appropriate for individuals who need
some assistance with activities of daily living,
but who are not in need of skilled nursing home
care. Generally, it is expected that residents
are able to move from place to place by themselves
or by using supportive devices such as a cane
or walker. Wheelchairs are permitted when a
resident is able to transport him or herself
to and from his/her own bed. Residents must
also be able to react appropriately in an emergency
situation.
The emergence
of Assisted Living residences benefits not only
the elderly, but also their families. Studies
have shown that, on average, for every senior
needing assistance, there are at least three
other individuals whose lives are affected -
the spouse of the individual, children, and
other family members and friends. When an elderly
parent lives within an Assisted Living environment,
all involved may find peace of mind.
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Would Assisted
Living be Appropriate
for Your Parent?
Carefully and
honestly weigh your replies to the questions
below. If many of these questins are applicable
to your parent's current situation, you and
your parent could very well benefit from an
Assisted Living environment.
- Is your parent experiencing
forgetfulness?
- Is there difficulty with
grooming and personal hygiene?
- Is mobility becoming a problem?
- Does your parent eat properly?
- Are medications taken correctly?
- Is your parent socially
isolated?
- Is loneliness a problem?
- Does he/she participate
in fewer stimulating activities?
- Are current housing expenses
excessive?
- Is emergency help readily
available, day and night?
- Have family and friends
moved away?
- Are you and/or others increasingly
worrying about your parent's wellbeing?
- Is the current home difficult
to maintain or inappropriate for an older
person (too large, too many stairs, cupboards
too high, bathrooms too small)?
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The Emotional
Decision
Since you're
reading this material, you're probably familiar
with the stress that comes from juggling the
responsibilities of work, home, family, finances
and concern for an aging parent. It's not easy
to "parent your parent." The whole
role-change situation has a tendency to become
emotionally charged. Asking a parent to live
in an Assisted Living residence is often an
emotional decision, one which is confronted
by hundreds of people every day.
For many, considering
a supportive residence for a parent is a difficult
step. You want to find a place where they'll
be happy . . . a place that you're certain will
take good care of your parent.
Some have feelings
of guilt or inadequacy with their decision to
not move their elderly parent in with them.
This is natural; however, studies show overwhelming
evidence that the vast majority of elders and
their families are much happier, and report
much improved relationships, after moving to
an Assisted Living arrangement.
Some elderly
resist Assisted Living residences because they
deny the need for help. They don't want to admit
that they should no longer live on their own,
and don't want to lose their sense of control.
It often helps to explain that a move is still
their decision. You may choose to tell them
that you are concerned about them, and that
it would give you peace of mind and comfort
if they would make the move to an Assisted Living
residence. Another suggestion is to offer to
assist them in deciding which one they like
the best.
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The Rational
Decision
To deal with
your own emotional feelings, try to make the
most rational decision possible. Let your parent
know that you understand the importance of the
decision, and point out that moving to New Horizons,
or any other of the many good Assisted Living
residences, does not mean a loss of independence.
On the contrary, it means the freedom to live
more independently without the responsibilities
of home ownership and without dependence on
family or friends.
Throughout
your discussions, encourage your parent's feelings
that he or she has control over his/her life.
You might want to sit down with your parent
and write a list of the advantages. For example:
- No home maintenance or hassles.
- Delicious meals cooked for
them.
- Full slate of social and
recreational activities.
- Help is available if ever
needed.
- The possibility of companionship
and making new friends.
- Time and stress are reduced
for everyone so you have more time to enjoy
each other.
- Freedom to live independently
in a private suite with their own belongings.
- If their abilities should
ever increasingly fail, they are in a place
where help is readily available without having
to move away from a new life and friends.
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The Tour
The best way
to learn about any Assisted Living residence
is to visit one. While there are many similarities,
there are also many important differences. When
visiting, let your senses tell you about the
place. Allow the Marketing Director or Executive
Director to show you around, and ask questions
as you think of them. Never be bashful about
what you ask.
Your parent
can take these initial tours with you, but it
is strongly recommended that you first find
a residence you like, and then take your parent
for a tour at a later date. Oftentimes, it helps
a great deal to tour a community's website before
visiting, and then see how well the program
really compars with whatever appears on the
website.
The following
are some questions to consider having answered
when visiting New Horizons or any other residence.
All may not be important to you, but having
these answers may help you determine if the
residence really meets your needs.
- Is it convenient?
- Is it attractive and inviting,
inside and out?
- Is the food tasty and attractively
served?
- Is the residence well-lit
inside?
- Is it too noisy (or too
quiet)?
- Do you hear/see residents
socializing?
- Are there attractive grounds
and other surroundings?
- Is there a "homey feel"
or an institutional atmosphere?
- How stable is the facility's
management team?
- Do staff members show genuine
interest in, and affection for, individual
residents?
- Is it a secure, pleasant
setting where your parent or loved one can
enjoy an independent lifestyle along with
the availability of supportive services to
make life a bit easier - either now or in
the future?
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Costs
The
monthly fees to live in an Assisted Living residence
will often be much less than the costs of living
at home with outside aid coming in. Look closely
at what you're getting for the money: a place
to live, three meals a day, assistance as needed
- 24 hours a day, the possibility of new friendships,
activities, scheduled transportation, most utilities
and more. If you add the costs of each of these
items, you may find that it is a very good value.
At New Horizons, the overall cost of living
will likely be less than living independently.
In addition, no one can put a price on peace
of mind and overall well being. Most residents
who move to New Horizons, and their families,
are somewhere between very happy and ecstatic
with their decision, and ultimately happy that
they made the move.
There are very
different prices for different-sized suites
and for different Assisted Living service plans.
The staff of the residence will carefully go
over all price structures and help you with
any questions.
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The Residence,
Owner and Management
It is imperative
to check the credibility and financial stability
of the owner, management and the residence itself.
Assisted Living has become very popular within
the business community, and many facilities
are being built, operated and managed by newcomers,
who may lack experience and staying power. Sometimes,
the issue for potential residents and their
families is whether they are willing to take
a risk with a new owner/manager who lacks a
track record. You can have more confidence in
your decision when the owner/manager has experience.
Both New Horizons in Marlborough and Woburn
are rock-solid financially, with decades of
experience. Both are not-for-profit, and neither
even has any sort of mortgage on its property.
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Touring
with Your Parent
When convenient
for you and your parent or loved one, make an
appointment to tour either of our facilities
and enjoy a meal together. Encourage your prospective
resident to ask questions and talk with people
who live there. Most residents whom you encounter
will be delighted to talk with you, they will
and give you their very honest opinions.
As you tour,
it may be helpful to identify on a personal
level, many of the benefits of the program and
the facility itself. For example: "What
a warm and cheery room to watch your favorite
TV show; What a friendly person, I'll bet you'll
make a lot of new friends here; I can just imagine
how pretty your suite will be when we bring
your furniture and decorate; Won't it be nice
to have friends to dine with every day?"
By stating benefits, you will reassure your
parent and ease your own transition. This will
help you both look forward to the move.
If you choose
to delay your decision, take note. Both New
Horizons communities operate at near capacity,
and the facility you plan to choose may not
have a vacancy if you wait. It's a good rule
of thumb to put down a fully refundable deposit,
even if it is to just get your name on the waiting
list, and you risk nothing. There is an advantage
in already having a reservation when the decision
to move is finally made.
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Move-In
Criteria
Once the joint
decision is made, there will likely be an assessment
of the prospective resident to determine the
appropriate level of Assisted Living services
necessary (if any), and to establish a Service
Plan. Administrators will likely ask that your
parent obtain a physical examination and that
his/her physician fill out an information sheet.
This is all very important to the health and
welfare of your mom or dad.
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Preparing
to Move
The hardest
part about the move may be choosing which pieces
of furniture and belongings to take. Pull the
floor plan of your loved one's new suite. Together
you can pencil in appropriate places for furniture.
This will not only help you decide which items
to take, but it may also assure they fit and
help determine the layout of the room prior
to the actual move, saving you time.
Whenever possible,
your loved one should be in charge of the move,
taking responsibility even if it slows things
up a bit. They may be indecisive, but instead
of making decisions for them, help them make
a choice for themselves. The more involved the
parent, the less likely they will feel coerced
or patronized, and the greater their commitment
to their new home.
This information
was designed to describe the role of an Assisted
Living facility, spell out simple procedures
for making the decision easier, and identify
a few things to expect once the decision is
made. We sincerely hope you found it helpful.
Throughout
your search, you will come to see that most,
but not all, Assisted Living residences are
active, lively settings that promote healthy
lifestyles and goodwill. They typically are
not institutional settings with reclusive residents.
Assisted Living residences are generally wonderful
environments from which everyone benefits .
. . the residents, their families, and even
their friends.
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New Horizons at Choate,
LLC
21 Warren Ave.,
Woburn, MA 01801
781-932-8000 |
New Horizons at Marlborough,
LLC
400 Hemenway St.,
Marlborough, MA 01752
508-460-5000 |
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