Searching for the right assisted living community for your mom or dad is a practical yet deeply personal decision. Understanding the goal of assisted living communities is crucial when choosing the right fit for your loved one. This means researching what each community prioritizes.
Typically, if you are the eldest daughter, this responsibility often falls on you. You are looking for a place where your mom or dad can live without the hassle of home upkeep, somewhere they can receive the support they need, especially if they have recently lost a spouse.
It is not just about proximity to family, it is also about ensuring they are not isolated, providing opportunities for social interactions, fun activities, and an active lifestyle.
This is where Kensington Park stands out. Located in Kensington, Maryland, Kensington Park is not just an assisted living community. It is a community that offers the right balance of independence and care, tailored to meet individual needs.
Here, your parent will find a supportive environment that goes beyond basic needs, offering engagement, companionship, and a chance to enjoy their later years with dignity and joy.
Our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
What is the goal of assisted living?
Assisted living is a form of residential senior living that is designed to support older adults in living a fulfilling, safe, and independent life, with assistance available when needed.
The goal of assisted living is to focus on helping senior residents with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management and balancing independence with the right level of care.
The primary goals of moving into an assisted living community
A senior living community that offers assisted living will offer a variety of amenities and activities designed for their residents’ interest, offering the benefits of:
- Improved quality of life: Creating a comfortable living environment where residents can enjoy their interests and hobbies.
- Independence: Empowering residents to maintain their autonomy, with help readily available as needed.
- Personalized care: Ensuring each resident receives the specific care they require.
- Mobility and accessibility: Facilitating easy mobility around the community and providing accessible amenities, such as on-site physical rehabilitation and all-day dining.
- Socialization: Encouraging community engagement through social events, clubs, and life enrichment activities.
- Access to nurses and medical care: Skilled nursing and healthcare professionals offering medical care when needed.
The three principles of assisted living
Assisted living communities are guided by three foundational principles:
- Dignity
- Independence
- Choice
These principles ensure that residents receive care that respects their individuality and promotes a sense of self-worth.
Dignity
Every individual deserves to be treated with respect and have their wishes honored, regardless of their age or health condition.
In practice, this means:
- Residents receive assistance with daily activities in a tactful manner that respects their privacy and personal preferences.
- Staff interactions are grounded in respect, recognizing the life experiences and wisdom of each resident.
Independence
Assisted living aims to empower residents to live as independently as possible, which includes:
- Providing support where necessary, while allowing residents to do as much as they can on their own. For example, if a resident enjoys walking, the staff ensures they can safely walk in the gardens, perhaps with a walker or a companion.
- Senior living communities are designed to encourage independence, with features like handrails, and accessible design elements.
Choice
Residents should have the freedom to make choices about their daily lives, from small decisions to significant ones:
- Respecting choices regarding meal options, activity participation, or room decoration. A resident might choose to have family photos displayed prominently or select their meal options based on their dietary preferences.
- Offering a range of activities and allowing residents to decide how they wish to spend their time. A resident who enjoys painting could choose to participate in art classes offered by the community.
Levels of care in assisted living
In assisted living communities, each resident will have their own unique needs, ranging from minimal assistance to more comprehensive support, including:
Minimal assistance
These residents are largely independent but may need help with a few daily tasks.
Moderate assistance
This level is for residents who are largely independent but may need help with a few daily tasks.
High-level care
This level is for residents who need extensive support in their daily lives, possibly including specialized nursing care.
What is the highest level of care in assisted living?
In senior living, the highest level of care is often found in specialized areas such as memory care communities or high acuity care areas.
These levels of care cater to residents whose healthcare needs are more intensive and require constant monitoring and support.
High acuity care
This level of care is for residents who have health care needs that have changed drastically, perhaps caused by a neurological condition, and require close medical supervision and assistance with most of their daily activities.
Memory care communities
Specifically for residents with memory-related or neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and multiple sclerosis, who require round-the-clock care and supervision in a secure environment.
The health care team is specifically trained to manage the unique challenges of memory care, offering structured activities and therapies to enhance cognitive and physical function and quality of life.
How does assisted living differ from independent living or memory care?
Assisted living, independent living, and memory care are each distinct types of senior living options.
In certain senior living communities, such as Kensington Park, residents are able to “age in place” meaning they can stay in the same community even if their health care needs evolve.
Assisted living
Assisted living is for seniors who need help with daily tasks like medication management, bathing, and dressing, but who do not require intensive medical care. It strikes a balance between support and independence, offering personalized care plans.
Independent living
Independent living is for seniors who are self-sufficient but seek the convenience and social opportunities of a senior community. Here, residents live in their own private apartments with access to amenities like housekeeping, meals, and recreational activities, but with less focus on personal care.
At-home care
Kensington Park Senior Living also offers our Kensington at Home program, a licensed home health care provider owned and operated by Kensington Senior Living. Seniors can enjoy the same superior quality of care and personal attention as the residents in our community—from the privacy and comfort of their own homes.
Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified medication technicians, and certified nursing assistants are all readily available to accommodate various lengths of time for at-home care.
Kensington at Home offers accommodations such as:
- Personal care assistance with bathing, grooming, dressin, and ambulation
- Companionship and engagement through activities
- Hospital and nursing home companionship off-site
- Meal planning, light housekeeping, laundry and linen care
- Nursing assessments
- Wound care management
- Pre/post-operative care
- Injections and blood draws
- Intravenous infusion therapy
- Diabetes management
- Gastric tube feeding
Memory care
Memory care is specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia, offering a secure environment and staff trained in memory care.
Kensington Park Senior Living offers three levels of memory care to ensure that we can provide care for residents even as their condition progresses.
- The Kensington Club serves those in the earliest stages of memory loss before they need more comprehensive care.
- Connections neighborhood is for our residents in the middle stages of memory loss. These residents are in the early to middle stages of their conditions and are still largely independent but need some specialized care in a safe environment.
- Haven is the neighborhood for residents in need of intense care, in the middle to late stages of Alzheimer’s or other cognitive conditions, and offers a comforting environment to preserve their quality of life as they progress through their conditions.
While researching assisted living for your loved one, ensure that the community offers the levels of memory care that your loved one requires. As their care needs progress, you won’t want to have to transition them again if the community they’re in can’t meet their needs.
Assisted living—the Kensington way
If you are in search of a welcoming assisted living community in Maryland, consider Kensington Park Senior Living for your loved one.
Contact us to book a tour of our assisted living community or call us at 301-615-8353.
Follow our community events page to discover more about what makes Kensington Park unique.