Assisted Living does NOT need a Medical Model of Care

Little by little we can all change the way that the health industry cares for its elderly ... I HOPE !!

Most facilities usually advertise and promote [in their literature] that there is care for you 'when' and 'if' necessary as well as being 'Nurturing' places which 'Encourage Social and Emotional Well-being';

This is just NOT the case in any facility that I have worked in, seen or heard about ... I dont mean that they dont look after you as your needs become greater ... I am only addressing the Social and Emotional aspects of daily living ...

These facilities would all like to think that they are taking into account our wishes, but in reality it is a difficult task ... particularly if assisted living is based on a medical model of care [more like a hospital] ... in fact it is not all that long ago when residents were referred to as 'patients' ... I understand that it is a difficult task to coordinate a large facility to run smoothly but there are aspects to care that could be altered to allow people more choices, .. changes are happening but only in tiny tiny steps ... nothing is changing fast enough for my liking ...

Is it really necessary to have lights out in all main living areas by 7pm at night?
Is 5pm the latest that dinner can be served?
can I really only shower 3x a week (if I need assistance)?
Are you serious when you say I cant use a normal pair of scissors or a hammer, or a small saw to make some toys for my grandkids?

Do we really have to have our lives so totally controlled by others when we choose to move into a facility because we are not managing at home as well as we used to ? We are still adults who are able to manage many things in our lives ... we may be a little unsteady on our feet at times but are ok when sitting at a table ... do we really need to be treated like children or people incapable of doing anything much anymore??

The reality is that accidents do happen, but most probably wont but rising insurance costs [as well as possible repercussions from family &/or friends] is making everyone cautious .... to the extreme

HOW IS THE SOCIAL CLIMATE GOING TO CHANGE WHEN THE BABY BOOMERS HIT THESE INSTITUTIONS ... because ' institution ' is still the best way to describe these facilities ...

ARE THERE PLACES OUT THERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN WHEN I AM OLD AND FRAIL ??? NOT AT THE MOMENT !!! or not that I am aware of ...

Time is running out for us all and before we know it 'WE' will be placed [or choose to live] in one of these facilities ... It is imperative that changes ... BIG CHANGES ... happen over the next 5 - 15 years otherwise there will be no helping us at all ...

Are there any Positive Models or facilities out there that we can learn from?? ... how can a facility be run so that freedom of choice and independence is encouraged [and more so] ALLOWED so that we can move away from the ' MEDICAL MODEL' of care ???