What does retirement home living have to offer a senior who is thinking about making a move?

Many seniors feel that if and when they decide to move into a retirement home, they would have to give up their present lifestyle and one’s self. Of course, you may want to give up some of your daily or weekly chores of cooking and cleaning, but a reputable retirement home will encourage you to remain yourself, involved in what interests you; surrounded by your family and friends. They would understand how important it is for you to live independently, just as you please, in the privacy of your own suite; your home.  Social activities and supportive services should be developed around your needs and choices, that respect your individuality and be supported by engaging and caring staff.

A retirement home that provides supportive living care services will have a regulated nurse, such as a registered or licensed nurse, who takes on the responsibility of being actively involved with developing foundational and regulatory systems that promotes safety. When requested they should be available to work individuality with you, your family and or your community of health professionals to coordinate services that may be required for you to live safely in your suite.

You have many retirement homes to choose from, visit them all, know what your needs and wants are and explore all to see whether the retirement home you are considering can meet your requirements and standards.

Are retirement home employees aware of the many disease processes that affect their senior population?

Education and support are ongoing between the health professionals and support staff at our retirement home. This is usually triggered either by the need to assist a Resident and or their family or by taking the opportunity of monthly awareness campaigns. This month is Arthritis Awareness Month and we took this opportunity to present the topic of Arthritis, the methods of prevention, its symptoms, and approaches to living with it. 

Arthritis causes pain and fatigue, which are the symptoms of the disease process. Inflamed, damaged joints are responsible for most of the pain. The energy your body uses to fight back is the source of the fatigue. This can make everyday activities difficult or painful. When joints are damaged, people tend to presume that reducing movement will reduce pain. The fear of pain usually leads to inactivity and loss of strength; this only worsens the situation because strong muscles are needed to support damaged joints.

There are ways that a person with Arthritis can prevent needless pain and have more energy to do what they want or need to do. Maintaining a healthy weight and regular physical activity will improve joint flexibility. We incorporate exercises that are approved by the Arthritis Society in our daily chair exercise classes and support the use of Dr. approved medications and therapies to ease the pain, so that our residents can remain as active and independent as possible.

Why do Retirement Homes ensure that there is a robust social program that offers scheduled exercise, activities, and outings into the Community?

Studies have shown that Seniors who choose to not become involved with others or activities increase their risks for falls, dehydration, and are also more likely to have feelings of being depressed.

It is normal for a person to experience a sense of loss if they lose a loved one or have moved out of their life long home and or away from their friends. Sharing with friends helps multiply the joys and divide the sorrows. The physical health benefits of socializing almost as equal to physical exercise, even though the social activities involve almost no physical exertion. Friendship, love and support are lifelines to be shared. It's never too soon to start building relationships and keep active.

By working with your health professionals, keeping physically active, eating healthy, and maintaining or developing new social connectedness, will assist you in optimizing your health and well-being.

In a Retirement Home setting we all work together to promote health and well-being while our Seniors lead healthy and active lives, while ageing.

Will I have to pay privately for care services when I require assistance, while living in a retirement home setting?

In a retirement home setting your suite is your private home, this enables you to access home care services from Alberta Health Services. You access home care services the same way you would if you were in your own home; referral by a family physician, health professional, family member, or self-referral.

The only time you would choose to pay privately from the retirement home health care staff, would be if you had been advised by home care that a particular service was not able to be provided at the time you require the service. Home care is mostly able to provide scheduled care, whereas the retirement home is able to provide care throughout the full 24 hour period.

Home care is always approached first before any private options are presented.

What information would I have to disclose if or when I decide to move into a retirement home?

There are many standards and laws that govern over any retirement home in Alberta. One of these standards is that a retirement home must follow all applicable laws and legislations to ensure that all resident confidential information that is shared, stored, transferred and or disposed of, is done so in a manner that maintains the residents right to have their personal and health-related information kept private and confidential. These standards were developed to strike a balance between the public’s right to know and the resident’s right to privacy.

Information is only to be collected for the need to provide safe care or services and is to be collected directly from the resident whenever possible. Retirement homes are only to disclose or share information if it is deemed essential to promote safety and or perform their job duties and to only be passed on to those with a need to know bases.

Any other information shared by a resident or family member will be done so if you deem it to be important to know in case of an emergency.

We all have very different comfort levels as to what we want others to know about us. If at any time you feel uncomfortable passing on information when asked, do ask why it is needed and refuse to give it if you feel the information is not needed to be known to promote your safety and or provide a service.