February 23, 2024
As the global population ages, it will bring both opportunities and challenges for senior living. The projected number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to double from 46 million to over 98 million by 2060. It will be the first time in history the number of older adults outnumbers children under age five. In addition, older adults will live longer than ever before. One out of every four 65-year-olds today will live past age 90. These remarkable gains are due to improved public health, better nutrition, and better healthcare.
With many people now expected to live into their nineties or beyond, there will be many new challenges and questions to answer. Even though people are living longer, they are not necessarily living healthier.
The nature of the assisted living prospect has changed dramatically over the past 15 years, with even greater changes to come. The senior living industry, including Hudson Grande Senior Living, will need to consider ways to adapt to residents with more complex and extended chronic care needs.
Some ways to adapt to residents with more complex needs include additional staff training. Not only will staff need the skills to care for residents progressing in their disease processes, but they will also need to understand how to quickly identify changes in their condition. Being proactive in this effort will allow teams to provide the care the residents need precisely when they need it.
Third-party vendors will be crucial to helping our assisted living staff be proactive.
The following will be crucial for caring for a resident population:
These vendors provide resident-specific care needed to help older adults continue to thrive in the assisted living environment.
One strategy to help us adapt to the aging population with more complex and extended chronic care issues is using third-party vendors to assist in nursing care for our more complex residents.
We can prepare and educate our staff to care for a population with more significant needs with frequent in-services related to the medical needs of the population we serve. The more frequently we do these, the more likely the staff will retain and use the information.
It is more important than ever to take a proactive approach when a change in condition occurs with a resident. To ensure our teams recognize even small changes within residents, we must use a collaborative approach when recognizing any change in our residents. From culinary staff to housekeepers to our drivers, we all talk about these changes in our monthly town halls with staff so they all feel empowered to say something if they see something. This could be the difference between increased care or a detrimental fall.
Once a change is identified, the appropriate next step is to notify the Director of Nursing. An assessment will occur, sometimes including therapy services and the wellness team.
Caring for a sicker population in an assisted living setting is a challenging issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Aging in place is an important goal for an older adult and should also be a priority of the senior living industry. To meet this goal, we must ensure we can fulfill the needs of our aging residents.
Hudson Grande Senior Living in Hudson, OH offers independent senior apartments, assisted living, and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. Centrally located near Summa Health Systems with convenient access to major shopping centers and attractions, including Ellsworth Meadows Golf Club, Hudson First and Main, Hudson Springs Park, Hudson Historic District, Gazebo & Green, and the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
