Care Facilities & Services

A Retirement Village or Estate will typically be built with approximately 200 units to ensure cost effectiveness but can be an estate consisting of hundreds of units, varying in sizes and support services available. The larger type of villages or estates typically will have one or more group dining area and common areas for social and recreational activities. Smaller villages with lessor units generally offers less services than their bigger counterparts.

Currently South Africa does not yet offer a rating or grading service, but it is an ongoing debate amongst the role players within the industry and we do believe that it will materialise in the foreseeable future.  We are however perceived to market leaders in this industry together with Australia and are closely followed by the rest of the world in new development trends.

Difference between Assisted Living and Care Centres

How does facility with Assisted Living for Seniors differ from the care provided in the Care Centre or Frail Care in a normal retirement Apartment or Village or even a Nursing Home?

An Assisted Living Facility differs from a Nursing Home in that it places greater emphasis on personal privacy and autonomy than a Care Centre or Frail Care whereas a Care Centre is set up for people who need skilled medical professionals providing them care and services on a daily basis.

Appropriate candidates for Assisted Living can be younger or older, affluent or low income, frail or disabled. A typical resident is a widowed or single woman in her seventies or eighties. Residents may suffer from memory disorders, or simply need help with mobility, incontinence or other challenges. Assisted Living is appropriate for anyone who can no longer manage to live completely independently on their own but doesn't require full time medical care.

If a senior needs a number of services, an Assisted Living may become a more economical alternative to home care services or full care centres, subject to the ability (medical and staff training) of the facility.

An Assisted Living unit is often the first stop for an older person who needs to get help with daily living. Some residents move on to the Care Centre; others may come to Assisted Living from a Nursing Home or hospital after a period of rehabilitation.

Assisted Living

Assisted Living offers the best of both worlds for seniors who need ongoing help with personal care and typical daily activities yet who wish to retain their independence to the fullest extent that they can.  As the Baby Boomers enter their retirement years, it's inevitable that some of these seniors, who may once have headed companies or travelled the globe, might start to need assistance with day-to-day activities. But they are understandably reluctant to forfeit their independence. Someone accustomed to managing a business (or a family) can have a difficult time acknowledging that they forget to take their medication, or need help getting bathed and dressed. Because they do not need daily medical care at this point, Assisted Living can be a good housing option.

What is an Assisted Living Facility?

An Assisted Living Facility provides care for seniors who need some help with activities of daily living yet wish to remain as independent as possible. A middle ground between independent living and Care Centres, Assisted Living Facilities aim to foster as much autonomy as the resident is capable of. Most facilities offer 24-hour supervision and an array of support services, with more privacy, space, and dignity than many nursing homes - at a lower cost.

An Assisted Living Facility helps seniors with personal care (also called custodial care), such as:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Eating and or Cooking
• Grooming
• Transportation
• Medication dispensing
• General Housekeeping chores

Daily contact with supervisory staff is the defining characteristic of an Assisted Living Facility. Medical care is limited in an Assisted Living Facility, but it may be possible to contract for some medical needs.

The key characteristics of an Assisted Living Facility are:

• Activities of Daily Living (dressing, personal care) comprehensive assistance provided
• Community Activities (social events, outings, golf, etc.) some activities offered
• Community Services (laundry, cleaning, etc.) many / most services provided
• Health Services (medications, nursing care) some services provided; not skilled nursing
• Environment (personal freedom) residents are somewhat independent
• Overall Health (physical, emotional) residents have average health problems

Homebased Care

The third alternative is called homebased care, and it is important to differentiate between homebased care within a controlled environment as an extension of Assisted Living Services within a village or estate and care provided by an independent person or agency in a private residence.

For the latter, the most critical component that needs to be considered is supervision. If there is someone else who can keep an eye on things on a daily basis it can work, however, it is unfortunately more often than not a situation than can get out of hand very quickly if the family members do not stay actively involved in the daily management of the carer. This is by far the most hands-on approach with a very high level of involvement required by the family members.