Assisted living communities are primarily social and residential settings. They allow older people to continue living as independently as possible whilst being in contact with peers. They also have a medical role to play. Older people are more likely to suffer from the effects of aging: be this cognitive degradation, physical atrophy, or accumulated injuries. Because of this, every good assisted living community will have well-trained medical staff on call that has been equipped with the very best supplies. If at all possible, staff at a senior living community will try and help a resident on-site so as not to subject them to a disorientating or disturbing trip to the hospital. Here is some of the essential medical equipment that is kept in every good senior community.
Stair Lifts And Elevators
We all get a little stiff in our old age. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory ailment suffered by people who live into their golden years. Older folks also find it hard to recover entirely from bone and muscular injuries. All this means that providing ways for older folks to move around an assisted living community easily is essential. Stairs provide an especially tough challenge. Climbing and descending stairs is a complex task that involves lots of stability and strength. Stairlifts and elevators can take some of the stress out of living with reduced mobility in a multi-level building.
Infection Prevention Equipment
Infections are especially dangerous for people over the age of 80. Staff and residents working and living in senior living communities need to be vigilant to prevent any infections from taking hold. Good senior living communities such as Brightview assisted living in Bethesda have plentiful stockpiles of disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and Personal Protective Equipment. Even more important than equipment in fighting infection rates is staff training. Staff at Brightview are vigilant and quick to act when the risk of infection becomes high. Regular disinfecting of furnishings and equipment is carried out.
Assessment Tools
Assessment and diagnosis are crucial first steps in any medical chain of events. It is the responsibility of staff in a senior assisted living community to accurately assess the medical condition of residents so that they can be either helped on-site or guided to the appropriate medical facility. Stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, blood pressure, and blood sugar monitors are all routinely kept on site.
Emergency Defibrillators
Speed is of the essence when treating a coronary emergency. Every minute delay in giving CPR and defibrillation during a coronary emergency decreases the chances of a full recovery by around 7 percent. For this precise reason, most senior living communities have at least one defibrillator sourced from a reputable store like AED Leader on site. The first aid-trained staff members are instructed on the safe and effective use of electrical defibrillators. Defibrillation can be a lifesaving process when a person is suffering from heart failure. According to John Hopkins University, around 522 lives are saved every single year by defibrillation.