Is It Time for Assisted Living? What You Need to Know About Santa Marta’s Supportive Services

If you have an older family member or friend who’s starting to slow down or seems to be having trouble keeping up with their household responsibilities, it can be hard to know how to help.

Suggesting they move to a senior living community can be met with skepticism or resistance. Even if making the move to assisted living would make life more enjoyable and help your loved one stay independent longer. But how do you know when it’s time for a move to assisted living?

Assisted Living Benefits

Despite some of the stereotypes and myths about assisted living, it offers a maintenance-free lifestyle with a calendar full of activities, classes, and programs making it very similar to independent living. What makes it different is there’s a care team available 24/7 to help with activities of daily living (ADLs) when and where needed. ADLs include:

• Bathing and grooming
• Getting dressed for the day or ready for bed
• Going to the bathroom
• Mobility (getting in and out of a chair, bed, or around the community)
• Medication management (administering, storing, and managing refills)

When to Move to Assisted Living

Not everyone needs or wants the same level of help around the house but assisted living acts as a support if it’s needed. Of course, there are more reasons to consider making the move than just ADLs.

• Expanded social circle: Moving to an assisted living community is a great way to meet new people. Our classes, social activities, and outings give your loved one the opportunity to meet people with similar interests and experiences.
• Fall prevention: Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults and are often caused by a home that wasn’t built with senior safety in mind. Assisted living communities are designed with safety features and have staff available around-the-clock in case an accident does happen.
• Chronic health problems: If your family member has ongoing health problems, having access to care is vital to their safety. As a Life Plan Community, Santa Marta offers higher levels of senior care including memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation, if ever needed.
• Better nutrition: If your family member has gained or lost weight, it can be a sign of serious medical problems or that they’re having trouble preparing food. Santa Marta offers restaurant-style dining with well-balanced chef-inspired meals.
• Mobility issues: If your loved one is having trouble walking or getting up and down stairs, moving to an assisted living community is one way to ensure their safety.
• Difficulty with household chores: While your family member may love living at home, it’s easy to fall behind on maintenance and upkeep until it becomes overwhelming. Making the move to a maintenance-free community can free them from the responsibilities of homeownership.

Learn More About Assisted Living at Santa Marta

Once you know the benefits of assisted living at Santa Marta we think you’ll quickly see why we’re one of the best senior care options in Kansas. If you have questions about our assisted living, use our Virtual Assistant chat feature or contact one of our helpful senior living counselors. We’d love to show you around our beautiful community and even treat you to lunch.