What To Expect When You Choose Assisted Living in Arizona

Now you get to shop around for a new assisted living apartment home to settle into! You might be wondering, though: what should you expect when choosing your assisted living apartment or community? 

Here are five things to expect when you start your search:

1. Excursions and Social Events

Just because you’re in assisted living doesn’t mean you have to stay in the building all day! There’s a whole world out there, and there are events, cultural programs, and other shows that happen not only in Peoria but also in Glendale and nearby Phoenix. Are you into volunteering somewhere, or do you have an event you want to visit? We can take you there with free transportation!

Being involved in this community and spending time out among other people is a great way for the senior in your life to stay engaged and participate in the things they love to do. It’s also good for healthy aging if they go with a group of their friends and neighbors, as they’ll be making meaningful connections and possibly learning new things. 

Maybe they aren’t a fan of the theater, but there’s a play that their friends want to attend, or if there’s a museum exhibit they aren’t particularly interested in, but they go anyway because their new neighbor is wild about that subject. They can make a meaningful connection with their friend and neighbor, and they’ll learn something about that subject, which promotes a healthy brain.

2. No Chores

Handling your own laundry and housekeeping can hold a certain satisfaction, but as we age, activities connected with general chores get more difficult to handle. Maybe we can’t bend over to reach all the way back into the laundry machine anymore, or it’s difficult on our shoulders and back to dust the high shelves.

That’s why the staff and personnel at the Mission at Agua Fria are there for you – you can let go of your daily and weekly chores such as housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, and food prep. You can sleep easy with a weekly linen change and dine-in style since we’ll do all the cooking for you too!

You also won’t have to worry about landscaping and lawn care since we have professionals to handle that. However, if you’re a gardener, there are plenty of ways to incorporate plants into your apartment home, so they’re close by. A variety of potted plants will flourish in an apartment and still give you the pleasure of growing things. In fact, houseplants increase the quality of life in assisted living communities!

3. Soul Food

You can expect delicious and nutritious restaurant-style dining as well. Meals are chef-prepared three times daily, and they’re all dishes crafted to be tasty as well as wholesome. Keep in mind that as we age, our daily nutrition needs change, and our chefs have a couple of rules of thumb when it comes to cooking for seniors.

First, it’s important to “eat the rainbow.” The more colorful your plate, the more nutrient-packed it’s likely to be. Fresh fruits and veggies turn up in each dish. While we all tend to indulge in a treat like potato chips, cakes, fast food, or sugary drinks, too much can contribute to empty calories and make it difficult to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. You may see some of those treats around, but they’re balanced out by the nutrient-packed main dishes.

Second, processed food tends to be full of added sugar, fat, salt, and preservatives, so the meals prepared at the Mission at Agua Fria provide meals with whole foods as often as possible. Minimally processed foods are better for you, make you feel satiated, and don’t contribute to weight gain and inflammation. You can expect fun snacks and wonderful new dishes, including family recipes!

4. Furry Friends

Your cat or small dog is welcome at the Mission at Agua Fria! Animals make great companions; we wouldn’t want to break that bond if you already have a pet. After all, we’re here to ensure you live the longest, healthiest life you can, and pets are an excellent way to stay active and feel connected. Pet ownership among seniors contributes to not just emotional support and mental health – you can also expect physical benefits such as lower blood pressure and heart rate readings. If you have a pet, you tend to be more active as you go for walks and play with them. You’ll be less sedentary, which tends to be a problem at any age.

Moving to a new home could also be a scary experience, so having a familiar furry face to help you get used to the change and ease the transition will be good. They may also need some time to adjust, so you both can adjust together.

5. Affordability

Paying for assisted living doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. If you’ve toured other communities and seen prices elsewhere, you might worry about the state of your finances. However, if you don’t go into assisted living, your quality of life might suffer, and that’s no good either.

The good news is that the Mission at Agua Fria was made to be affordable. You deserve to live in a home with quality care and dignity, and there are several ways to pay for it. Here are a couple:

• Arizona Long-Term Care Services (ALTCS): this is a Medicaid program for Arizona seniors who are over 65 and require additional medical care.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: If you don’t yet have a policy and are interested, visit the American Association of Long-Term Care Insurance.
• Veteran’s benefits: Make sure to ask about this if you are a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran

Living at assisted living in Peoria, Arizona, is an excellent way to spend the next chapter of your life. Make an appointment to come visit us today – we’ll show you how great your move can be!