There are many definitions of “Assisted living”. In general there are two components of a setting that provides “Assisted Living” or assisted living type services. They are the building or physical plant and the amount, type and continuity of the assistance or care.

Unfortunately when you first develop the need for minor assistance residents and families tend to look more at the physical plant than at the assistance. However that can have devastating emotional health consequences both now when you are relatively well and need minimal physical assistance and in the future when your care needs increase. Now when your physical assistance needs are minimal many have a high need for more emotional health care, relationship are often strained and declining for many making this transition. When the need for minimal physical assistance is arising we believe many seniors have a much larger emotional health need that is often times discounted. That is where continuity of care and relationship building with staff and other residents can be key.

While TLCSR has a beautiful, functional, high quality, private senior estate physical plant with private rooms and all the high end amenities, TLCSR focuses on providing the highest level and quality of assistance to all residents. To do that we focus on continuity of care and relationship building of all administrative and care giving staff at TLCSR with each resident, their family and friends. That focus on continuity of care and relationship building helps transcend the mere physical delivery of “Assistance” with a task to heart felt caring about the entire person. We believe that the heart felt caring, relationship building, and continuity of care is what maximizes emotional health.

We suggest people consider how a resident might feel if they have a different caregiver “assisting a resident with dressing each day”, a caregiver who most likely does not know who visited the resident over the last few days, or know of special events that the resident was involved in over the last few days as compared to that same physical task of getting assistance with dressing but combined with a short conversation with the caregiver providing that assistance recalling the recent events and visits the resident experienced and some forward looking comments on who might be visiting the resident soon.

That combination of the physical assistance combined with continuity of care throughout the day to day care we believe is essential to maximize that feeling of caring residents are looking for. We suggest all people consider continuity of care when they inquire about how each care setting is defining and providing Assisted Living type of services in their facility. Share your ideas and definitions of Assisted Living with us. Click here.