February 24, 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 The Township 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.
Some strategies that will help us to adapt to the aging population with more complex and extended chronic care issues include emphasizing the importance of proactive health management. Partnering with EmpowerMe allows us to encourage regular health screenings through our Wellness Wednesday opportunities. We also have collaboration with them to provide coordinated care and improved outcomes.
We can prepare and educate our staff to care for a population with more significant needs by providing training on communication skills, empathy, active listening, and compassionate care in our town hall monthly meetings. This will help staff build stronger relationships with residents and families, improving satisfaction.
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 promote and encourage them. We should provide feedback and reinforcement to support their efforts when they do so. We should share their success stories to motivate and inspire others to be vigilant in their observations. Everyone should be aware their voices matter greatly to ensure success in our community.
Once a change is identified, the appropriate next steps are to develop a proactive plan that provides protocols for staff to regularly observe and document vitals, pain level, mental status, and other relevant parameters. Collaborating with resident providers to inform them of early recognition can lead to timely interventions, improved outcomes, and enhanced patient safety.
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.
The Township Senior Living in Battlefield, MO 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 Cox Medical Center South with convenient access to major shopping centers and attractions, including Backwoods Golf, Relics Antique Mall, Chesterfield Family Center, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, and Nathanael Green/Close Memorial Park-Botancial Gardens.
