It’s no secret that most people want to age at home. The reality is that may not always be possible. For many, that means moving to senior living. But the complaint we often hear is that the large campuses and institutional environment feel nothing like home. What’s more, even if your loved one needs help with some daily activities most seniors still want to be as independent as possible – helping with meals, shopping, running errands – which aren’t really an option in traditional senior living. But there is an alternative: boutique senior living. Learn how it offers support and independence through immersive activity programs.
What is Boutique Senior Living?
Boutique senior living provides care in a residential environment. It’s not just ‘homelike’ as traditional senior living tries to create; here you’re in an actual single-family home! We refer to it as boutique senior living because our homes blend the care and amenities of traditional communities with the comfort and the experience of life at home. Even better, none of our homes have more than 16 residents and we offer a nearly unheard of 1 to 5 caregiver to resident ratio. This allows for more personal attention as well as the warm family feel in which your loved one is familiar.
The Benefits of Immersive Activity Programs
No one wants to feel like they can’t do anything for themselves. In fact, losing independence is one of the top fears people have about moving to senior living. We understand that needing a helping hand, doesn’t mean your loved one is any less vibrant. That’s why we treat our residents with the dignity and respect they deserve, and encourage them to be as active and engaged as possible, just like they would at home.
One of the ways in which we do that is through our immersive activity program. Immersive is defined as being deeply involved in an activity, or actively engaging one’s senses. You’ll often see the word referred to when describing virtual reality experiences that traditional senior living offers sometimes too. Here we don’t have to pretend; we’re talking about real life and believe that one of the ways in which residents feel more at home is to involve them in the day-to-day activities as much as they can and want.
As part of our immersive activity program, residents may go to the grocery store or run errands with caregivers, set the table, or share recipes and may even suggest outings to enjoy offsite or events to host, just like they would at home. This gives them the ownership and independence that they likely wouldn’t have in traditional senior living.
Extras Included
Of course, there are benefits to traditional senior living as well – the most highly touted are the amenities. But don’t worry; your loved one won’t have to trade one for the other. Boutique senior living offers the same extras. For example, our homes all have at least 4,000 square feet of living space and also provide laundry services, housekeeping, complimentary Wi-Fi, transportation and safety features such as fall alert pendants, state-of-the-art video monitoring and keypad entry/exit access. Plus, we also feature daily exercises, plenty of social opportunities and cognitive stimulation that may include art projects, gardening and storytelling. We even have live entertainment featuring local musicians and our spacious yards are perfect for hosting parties and family barbeques – a favorite of our residents.
For more information on immersive activity programs in our boutique senior living homes or to schedule a virtual tour, call (224) 333-6247 to speak to a Shepherd Premier team member.
