Posted: June 3, 2022

Assisted Living

What’s Included in Assisted Living?

As people age, living on one’s own can become burdensome or unsafe. Assisted living communities are designed to enable people to retain some independence while enjoying a range of services designed to make life easier, including meal preparation, medication management, and housekeeping.

Another advantage of assisted living is that they provide older adults with a sense of community and opportunities for socializing. Loneliness in older people can lead to mental and physical decline, so an assisted living community can be a good environment for overall wellbeing.

What Are Assisted Living Communities?

Assisted living facilities allow people to remain independent as long as possible in an environment that maximizes the their autonomy, dignity, privacy, and safety. They also emphasize family and community involvement. Residents have access to nutritious meals, social activities, and assistance with the activities of daily living. Whereas a nursing home has a clinical, more hospital-like environment, an assisted living community is just that—a community. The atmosphere is very home-like.

Assisted living residents usually live in their own apartments, including a furnished or unfurnished bedroom, kitchen area, and bathroom. Various types of apartments are available at Walnut Crossing, including studio, one-bedroom, and one-bedroom plus den apartments, all with a private bathroom.

What Services Do Assisted Living Communities Offer?

Assisted living communities offer a range of services—depending on need—to ensure residents are safe and comfortable. There’s a great level of person-centered assisted care that encourages people to retain as much independence as possible. Our team provides gentle encouragement for residents to explore all the social connections and engaging activities just outside the door of their assisted living apartment.

Residents also receive needed help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, getting dressed, and personal grooming. Other services include:

• Health services and medication administration
• Housekeeping and maintenance
• Laundry services
• Educational activities
• Exercise and wellness activities
• Health monitoring programs
• Organized recreational activities
• Social services and religious activities
• 24-hour emergency pendant and response
• Transportation arrangements
• Groceries, dining out, and meal delivery (three meals plus three snacks daily)

Good nutrition is essential for older adults, and at Walnut Crossing, meals are a big deal. Not only do they offer residents the opportunity to enjoy well-balanced meals and socialize with friends, but our partnership with Duet Hospitality provides a diverse selection of meals and menus designed to please.

Here are some of the features residents enjoy when dining at Walnut Crossing:

• Introduction of superfoods. Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods considered to be particularly beneficial for health and wellbeing. Every month, we focus on a new superfood based on seasonal availability and nutritional content.
• Focus on fresh ingredients. We opt for fresh ingredients as often as we can in each meal. Our team looks for natural, locally sourced foods to bring recipes to life for our residents.
• Varied menu options. With a rotating selection of dishes, our residents never get bored. Each quarter, our team offers signature items, desserts, specialty drinks, or other new creations that are offered for a limited time.
• Heirloom recipes. Residents are welcome to bring in their favorite family recipe—perhaps one passed down for generations—for everyone to enjoy.

Our spacious dining room is filled with natural lighting and warm, inviting décor for a delightful atmosphere. Chef Krystl Gray has years of experience bringing a high level of creativity to each dish, and her goal is to ensure that residents have an engaging dining experience that encompasses social connection and restaurant style.

When Is It the Right Time for Assisted Living?

Making the decision to move to an assisted living community can be difficult. Everyone has their own reason for choosing to make the move, but the most common are wanting more social interaction, needing extra help with daily tasks, and wanting more time to enjoy retirement. Whatever the reason, Walnut Crossing is here to help. Our assisted living community strives to honor you or your loved one as a unique individual.