Home manager Christoph Häfele talks about the right time to move into assisted living.
“Most people are too late,” says the 40-year-old trained geriatric nurse about the right time to move into assisted living. The social trend of wanting to live (alone) in one’s own four walls for longer and longer is fueling this tendency.
For sprightly pensioners who can look after themselves, living in their own home is also a good option, says Häfele. However, the head of a nursing home in Bad Reichenhall has observed that many applicants wait too long before looking for a retirement home.
Short supply, high demand
One sign that it is a good time to move is when everyday life can no longer be managed alone. “Anyone who stops cooking for themselves or can no longer do the shopping should move into assisted living now at the latest,” says Häfele. This is because the first signs are often followed by a deterioration in health. People then live at home, but isolated from their surroundings. “If there is no family nearby or neighborly help, many quickly become depressed and immobile,” Häfele explains.
And there is another issue: The number of assisted living apartments is scarce. This is why older people often have to apply for this type of housing. If the person concerned makes a poor physical or mental impression, providers are more likely to allocate free living space to people who are even fitter. There are also long waiting lists. Take Bad Reichenhall, for example with twice as many applicants for 85 apartments. Some also wait several years for a commitment.
Looking for an apartment on retirement
Häfele therefore reports on a long-standing employee who applied for an assisted living apartment when she retired. Anyone who takes action when they reach the age of 65 is looking ahead wisely. Those who wait until living alone becomes difficult, on the other hand, are too late. Häfele points out what is possible in assisted living. “We had an 85-year-old resident who moved in with us after a suicide attempt. She met a man of the same age in the house. The two pensioners fell in love. “We had the full program, including butterflies in the stomach,” says the facility manager.
What this episode shows is that many people rekindle their will to live. “People who move into assisted living live better lives,” says Häfele – and can even live longer. This is because independent living is easily possible and can be supported on an ad hoc basis. If you want to keep your home clean and have your floor wet-mopped once a week, you can order this in the same way as a lunch menu twice a week. The infrastructure is there and does not have to be laboriously installed.
Location and service make the difference
This also includes having a specialist on site around the clock in case of emergencies. This 24/7 service offers security and is the decisive reason for many people looking to move into assisted living, reports Häfele. “That’s what makes a good offer”. This also includes the fact that the outpatient service is also in the building – and residents do not have to organize it themselves.
Häfele also believes it is important that the facility is as centrally located as possible. As close as possible to a pedestrian zone and not far from medical care. There are homes that lend out walking frames and e-scooters. This ensures mobility around the house. Those who opt for an apartment on the edge of a field, on the other hand, are often less able to participate spontaneously in social life.
The experienced facility manager also has a tip for married couples. If one of the couple needs care, both should move. After all, care at home can be extremely demanding. Many of the supposedly fitter partners forget to look after themselves and burn out. “We see time and again that the spouse who needs care first outlives the fit one,” says Häfele.
