Benefits of modern residential living facilities

Residential or assisted living facilities come in all shapes and sizes. Some homes offer 24/7 support for those who are unable to live alone; others provide more freedom and independent living facilities with minimal support.

Residential retirement homes and assisted living facilities are becoming more popular as people realise the benefits of having professional support on hand, with none of the overheads of owning their own home. With so many facilities to choose from, you need to find a way to stand out.

These are some proven ways to improve the quality of life at your assisted residence facility.

Bring nature inside

There is lots of evidence that looking after the grounds and incorporating as much nature as possible into a living facility can help new residents relax and settle into their new surroundings. Garden lawns, flower beds, house plants, and aquariums can all help bring people closer to nature and make the space feel less clinical and more welcoming. You can even let people get involved in helping maintain gardens, feed the fish, and water houseplants.

Focus on cleanliness and tidiness

When you’ve got lots of people living in the building or sharing communal areas, bad hygiene and a lack of cleanliness can be hugely off-putting. Residents and their families will appreciate seeing tidy lawns, clean corridors and a tidy reception area. No one wants to feel like they have to clean up someone else’s mess, so if shared spaces are constantly left untidy and dirty, it can be off-putting and may mean residents don’t feel comfortable using all the excellent facilities you have to offer.

Minimise staff turnover

Living in a residential living facility should feel homely and familiar. When you have a high staff turnover, it can be challenging for people to get comfortable. Try to make sure your staff are happy, and the schedule is regular. This allows people to get to know people and know who to expect, who they get on with, and they can build relationships with the people they will be interacting with.

Organise communal activities

Even for independent living homes, having frequent communal, social activities can allow people to get to know their neighbours and create a shared sense of belonging. Regular meetings, music groups, book groups, coffee mornings and more can encourage people to get involved and makes the facility feel like one large village.

Open up to visitors

Try to have an open-door policy. If the friends and family of residents don’t feel welcome, it can increase feelings of isolation and make people feel like they have sacrificed a lot of their independence. Try to make opening hours as long as possible, so people aren’t restricted. Family members may need to work, and if their schedule doesn’t fit around specific visiting hours, it makes staying in touch difficult.