Independence is a matter of choice and circumstances. And as we age, we naturally become more dependent on others. Living “independently” may mean that you own a home with a yard or a condo, you rent an apartment, or you rent a room in a senior living community. Most people who live a long life can expect to move from one level of independent living to another as yard work, driving and housekeeping become impossible tasks. The newest senior living communities now offer several options in one living complex: independent living, assisted living, short-term respite care for rehabilitation, a memory care neighborhood, and skilled nursing facility. This broad array of services allows clients to easily transition to a higher level of assistance and care within their new home.
Many seniors worry about how they might be cared for if they lose their memory or develop dementia. Memory care prescribes a specialized program of personal care and services designed for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Some individuals with memory loss continue to live at home with their families, under the care of their family doctor and supported by adult day care for socialization. Other individuals with dementia live in memory care communities staffed with aides who are uniquely qualified to provide comfort, safety and support for residents, and to provide opportunity for social interaction.
Memory care “neighborhoods” designed for dementia and other memory impairments, blend a home-like environment with holistic-centered programs and services under the supervision of highly-trained compassionate care managers. A team of professional care specialists deliver an individualized care program for each resident, based on confidential assessments or his/her cognitive abilities. Regularly scheduled follow up assessments and ongoing monitoring ensure that each resident is properly treated and supported through every stage of his/her disease.
It’s inevitable that aging seniors will need care and assistance at some time. Instead of worrying about it, educate yourself on all the options and plan ahead.
KALĀKAUA GARDENS —
A Senior Assisted Living Community
1723 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu HI 96826
808-518-2273 | www.kalakauagardens.com
15 Craigside is Hawai‘i’s newest not-for-profit senior living community. It welcomed its first residents on March 4, 2011. It is the first continuing care retirement community in Hawai‘i geared to moderate-income seniors who believed that a retirement community with a full continuum of care was not possible until now.
15 Craigside also offers a number of attractive lifestyle features, including a small e-café/bistro with wireless communication and technology, and a private dining area for special occasions, complete with a quality menu selection of many types of cuisines to entice the palate.
The development of the community brings life to the perception that 15 Craigside is a place where active and happy seniors want to spend the “best years” of their lives. “Imagine the possibilities!” says White with enthusiasm, “What would you be able to do if you had someone else cooking and cleaning and maintaining your home? We have seniors who engage in writing and painting, creating Websites, learning how to ‘Skype,’ volunteering and doing things that they never had time to do before. It is an exciting time providing the means for a very fulfilling life.”