7 Benefits of Senior Community Transportation Services
Over a million of Missouri's 6 million population are over the age of 60.
If you've got an elderly loved one in Missouri, finding the right assisted living community to care for them is essential. There are many things to consider when choosing assisted living, including the training of staff, dining options, and events on offer.
Something many loved ones of seniors forget about is the need for transportation to and from the community. In today's post, we'll discuss 7 benefits of senior community transportation services.
Senior transit solutions are essential for maintaining a high quality of life. As wonderful as their senior living community may be, it's important that they can get out and explore as well. Keep reading and find out why you should be prioritizing senior mobility assistance as much as anything else.
1. Sense of Freedom
When your loved one is in a high-quality assisted living community, they should have the freedom to live a fruitful life. That being said, without being able to get out and explore the area around the community, it's easy to feel cooped up.
Assisted living that offers transportation services will give your loved one a renewed sense of freedom. As long as it poses no risk to their emotional and physical health, they'll be able to enter and exit the community as much as they need.
For loved ones of assisted living residents, there's no need to worry about anything. Yes, they'll be free to explore, but there's a level of safety and security that the transportation services provide that will put your mind at ease. Services are timely and reliable, so nothing unexpected will occur.
2. Ability to Visit Family
Seniors need to spend time around family to maintain their mental health. Of course, family members are always welcome to visit the community, but some seniors like getting out and visiting with their loved ones.
One of the accompanying benefits of them being able to use transportation services to visit family is that family members aren't as relied upon for transportation. Loved ones of residents know all too well how much time goes into bringing their elder relatives on various kinds of outings.
With transportation services, you'll get some respite from these responsibilities. If transporting your loved one has begun cutting into your work or family life, look for a senior living community that offers transportation.
3. Safety and Accessibility
Aging out of being able to drive can be a difficult transition. If your loved one has difficulty seeing or hearing, they shouldn't be driving - transportation services help by allowing them to continue living outside the community safely.
A lot of elderly people are tentative about exploring the areas around their assisted living community. Whether it's because they feel unsafe or they're worried about getting lost, transportation services can take away this anxiety.
They're being chauffeured to their destination. En route, they'll be able to relax and enjoy the scenery flying by the window. The vehicles even have accessibility ramps and steps to help those who need senior mobility assistance.
4. More Social Interaction
It's shown that social interaction can have a positive effect on the mental and physical health of seniors. It can lower the risk of various illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and even some types of cancer. It also lowers the risk of developing depression and anxiety.
Your loved one will have every chance to engage in a variety of social activities and events in their community. Whether it's game nights or aerobics classes, they'll get to know their fellow residents and even form strong relationships with some of them.
It'll be important for them to socialize outside of the community as well. They may want to visit old friends whom they haven't seen in a while or take their new friends from the community to their favorite coffee shop or restaurant.
Transportation services give your loved one the ability to enhance their social life. Wherever they want to go, there'll be a car ready to take them there.
5. Peace of Mind/Emotional Health
Being able to get out and explore the local area is only going to help boost your loved one's emotional health. The thought that you can't leave a community can certainly be depressing for some. With transportation services, this is never the case.
Even if they don't use the transportation services much, having the option to go somewhere brings residents peace of mind. It also brings family members peace of mind knowing both that their loved one will be happy and that they'll be traveling safely.
6. Errands and Appointments
Many assisted living communities provide ample care for their residents. This often includes assistance with preparing meals, hygiene, taking medications, and getting dressed. It doesn't usually include medical appointments, even though doctors and nurses may come by from time to time.
Every senior has unique medical needs. At the very least, your loved one will need to see their doctor every once in a while. Transportation services ensure that they get to their appointments on time, every time.
This extends to errands as well. If your loved one needs to go out and get groceries or they want to go shopping for clothes, the community's transportation services will take them on these outings.
7. More Activity
Transportation services facilitate more physical activity. Seniors need around 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week to maintain their health and stave off common illnesses.
A good assisted living community will have a fitness center and regularly scheduled fitness classes. That said, your loved one may want to get out and perform these activities outside of the community. With transportation services available, they can go to the local pool or walk around nearby parks.
Value Senior Community Transportation Services
These are just a few of the many benefits of senior community transportation services. The value of transportation services can't be underestimated when choosing the right community for your loved one.
At Addington Place of Shoal Creek, we tailor our services to each resident's needs. We offer transportation to and from our community to give your loved one all of the benefits mentioned here. To learn more about our community and how we raise the bar of assisted living, contact us today.