January 14, 2011

Many seniors face difficult decisions regarding where to live as they age. Although the majority of seniors may intend to live in their homes, many older adults may choose to live in an assisted living facility. Look at general pros and cons of assisted living facilities to help determine if this might be the best option for a living arrangement for an older adult.

Advantages of Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living facilities have quite a few advantages. As a person ages, he or she may find that caring for oneself may become difficult due to chronic or acute health conditions. Sometimes the care needed does not warrant living in a nursing home, but home care may not be a viable option either.

Friends and family members may assist many seniors with various activities of daily living while they live at home, but those who are helping may become overwhelmed with multiple responsibilities or they may be unable to assist due to other reasons. Some seniors prefer not to ask friends or family members to help them with daily care or do not have anyone living near them that is able to assist.

Older adults who live at home may find the responsibilities of maintaining a home, cooking meals, managing multiple medications, keeping a yard, and finding adequate transportation to be exhausting. They may also feel isolated and lonely, particularly after the death of a spouse. Older adults who live at home alone may be frequent targets of scams to solicit money. Some seniors who live at home alone may be in an unsafe situation, such as the case of an elder who takes narcotics and another person who is addicted seeks those drugs.

Below are a few services that are offered by many assisted living facilities, although each facility may offer more or less services than those listed:
• help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and using the bathroom
• meals at predictable times in a common area
• transportation to appointments, shopping, entertainment, etc. (some assisted living facilities have on-site medical care options)
• management of medications
• housekeeping and laundry services
• access to health, exercise, and wellness programs and equipment
• socialization by living near others and through scheduled programs
• secure environment

Disadvantages of Assisted Living Facilities
Despite the advantages, assisted living facilities may not be the best choice for every senior. Many seniors prefer to live in their own homes. They may have lived in the house since childhood and find their current living situation comfortable, friendly, and do not wish to move in late stages of life. They may find unknown environments difficult to navigate, dread parting with most of their possessions, fear further isolation from family and friends, and look at any facility as a step away from independence.

Different facilities offer different levels of care, and it is important to look at what services are offered to ensure that needs are properly met. For example, someone who has moderate dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will typically require more specialized care that may be provided at some facilities but not at others. Those who required certain medications or specialized medical care may also require a higher level of care than that offered at an assisted living facility.

Seniors who have lived alone for many years may not relish the idea of living in a facility that houses many other people. Some facilities offer semi-private rooms, and elders may find it difficult to live with a roommate. Some assisted living facilities may have certain rules that might be bothersome to a senior, such as smoking and pet policies. Schedules for meals and other activities may differ from the ones typically kept by a senior living at home.

One of the biggest drawbacks of an assisted living facility is the cost. Most assisted living facilities charge a monthly rent with fees added for additional services. At the writing of this article, Medicare does not cover the costs of assisted living facilities, and many seniors find the cost of such a facility is prohibitive. The senior may have saved money all his or her life planning to leave a legacy to children but may discover that funds can quickly dwindle when paying for care such as this.

Although assisted living facilities offer a secure environment, some employees, guests, and other residents may attempt to take items that do not belong to them. Many seniors who reside in assisted living facilities have few personal items, but they often carry a heavy sentimental value. Although infection control is a priority in any facility, seniors may be vulnerable toillness, such as influenza or MRSA, due to facility-acquired infections.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Assisted Living Communities

Assisted living facilities offer an alternative to nursing home facilities for people who need assistance with activities of daily living but not a high level of care. Although these facilities may offer different services in different locations, many seniors find this type of living arrangement to be convenient, safe, and a welcome way to keep from being isolated that encourages their independence as much as possible.

Assisted living may not be the best fit for everyone as these facilities tend to be costly, are not covered by Medicare, and may not provide the level of care needed. Elders who have lived alone for years may be used to a routine developed over many years and prefer to stay in their own home rather than to live in a setting near others with different rules and regulations.
Sources:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home “Alternative Long-term Care Choices” accessed on July 4, 2010

Helpguide.org article by Joanna Saidan et. al. “Assisted Living Facilities: Tips for Choosing a Facility and Making the Transition” accessed on July 4, 2010

As Manila becomes more congested and pollution becomes frustratingly intolerable, many families opt to spend a few quality nights and relax in this hotel in Angeles City Clark Pampanga. It is fair to say that YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is known for its faithful rendition of the American suburban lifestyle, all there for the enjoyment of all ages and all members of the family.

This resort hotel is different from other hotels in Clark Philippines or hotel in Angeles City. This Clark Freeport Hotel has large space for children to play and adults to enjoy some peace and quiet in the picnic grounds near the lake. Clark Philippines is lucky to have such a hotel. Travel agencies think it is also a nice event venue for company outings, wedding, team building and planning session in the Philippines. They don’t think Angeles City, Manila or Subic has event venues like those in this beach resort in Pampanga.

New camping sites and picnic grounds in Philippines are now available for family outings in Philippines at Yats Clearwater Resort & Country Club in Pampanga Angeles City near Manila Philippines. Just bring camping equipment and enjoy the fun and ambience of outdoor living camping in Angeles City Philippines under safe, secured and clean conditions.

This breakfast garden café is absolutely the most idyllic restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines. You named it right – Clearwater Breakfast Garden and Café. This is exactly what Clark Freeport needs, a nice simple bistro café where one can get good quality breakfast and enjoy the food in peace at leisure pace. This is the best hotel restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines and the eggs Benedict as well as American Breakfast and the pancakes are really world-class.

Traffic along the North Expressway NLEX from Manila to Clark is always light and the new Subic Tarlac Clark Expressway ScTex takes visitors straight into Clark Freeport without going through any towns and cities along the way.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets http://www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com