What Is a Continuum of Care and Why Does It Matter for Seniors?
When you begin to investigate senior living, you may be struck by all the new terminology that goes with it. Many families feel like they’re learning a whole new vocabulary as they navigate their senior living journey.
Whether you’re starting your search or are well on your way to choosing a community for your loved one, you’ve likely heard the term “continuum of care” floating around.
But what does this mean? How does it support seniors and ensure their needs are met?
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the senior living continuum of care and why it matters.
A continuum of care to meet changing needs
The senior care continuum encompasses a range of services to meet different levels of need. Often, families start with services like home health or adult day programs. Senior living may become the best way to ensure your loved one’s continued security and quality of life if their needs change.
The senior living care continuum represents a range of senior lifestyles that are scaffolded to support residents with varying daily care needs, goals and preferences.
What does the continuum of care include?
Independent Living
Independent living is designed for active adults who don’t need help with their routines.
Independent living communities like LSS Kensington Place in Columbus, Ohio, provide private housing and prioritize community fellowship. They also offer a range of services, activities, events and programs for residents to enjoy.
Assisted Living
Assisted living caters to seniors with daily care needs.
It offers residents their personal balance between security and freedom by providing comprehensive, personalized care. Safety and quality of life are top priorities, which means greater peace of mind for loved ones.
Some communities offer a seamless transition from independent to assisted living like LSS Kensington Place, and residents can also enter senior living at this level of care at dedicated assisted living communities like LSS Lutheran Village.
Memory Care
Memory care is made for seniors living with dementia and other types of cognitive change.
Residents receive round-the-clock care in a calm, familiar setting. Enriching activities promote engagement and socialization, and resident quality of life is always top-of-mind. Grace House at LSS Kensington Place and Windsor Abbey at LSS The Good Shepherd are both dedicated memory care communities.
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation
Skilled nursing and rehabilitation is for those managing chronic health conditions who need consistent, long-term care or intensive, short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
Residents receive healthcare support from qualified providers, and have access to therapies, services and amenities to support well-being, recovery and quality of life. The Good Shepherd is a dedicated skilled nursing community in Ashland, Ohio.
Learn more about senior levels of care in our helpful blog.
Benefits of a senior living care continuum versus aging in place at home
Home may be where the heart is, but it’s not always the ideal environment to support those with changing cognition and evolving care needs.
Senior living provides personalized support to those in need.
Unlike home health, senior living includes many services, amenities and programs in its monthly rate. This makes it easier for families to create a monthly budget, and many find it’s the more affordable option when all the expenses are tallied.
Senior living also provides all the healthcare and medical services residents need in one convenient location. This can save you the time, frustration and cost of cobbling together in-home care services, only to adjust again if needs change.
Senior living may require an initial transition, but many communities are designed so you’ll never need to move again. Communities like LSS Kensington Place allow independent living residents to seamlessly transition to their assisted living level of care, without having to relocate.
Transitioning into senior living means getting the care you need, no matter what.
Senior living also offers residents at every lifestyle level access to an array of activities, programs and events to enjoy. Social opportunities encourage engagement and fuel quality of life, while dining programs support proper nutrition and hydration for health and well-being.
Discover even more ways senior living promotes healthy aging.
Lutheran Social Services Senior Living continuum of care
At LSS Senior Living, we’re dedicated to offering you access to all the senior lifestyle and care services you need, whenever you need them.
We support you by offering seamless transitions between levels of care in our communities, so your senior living needs are always met.
If you’re uncertain about which level of care is right for you or someone you love, we’re happy to guide you to understand your options and select the best choice for you.
Our senior living communities in Ashland and Columbus, Ohio are ready to welcome you and show you how much you matter.
Download our Choosing the Right Senior Living Community Guide to learn more.
