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Assisted Living for Rehab – What’s it Like?

Donna Nichols • September 5, 2023

Well, I did it this time; I fell and broke my hip. WOW, does it hurt! Landed in the hospital; my surgery is tomorrow and then I will have at least a month, if not more, of rehab. This is just great!


Did you know that insurance pays for you to have rehab either at home or in a nursing home? What if you don’t have anyone at home with you and can’t get out of bed and walk by yourself to the bathroom or kitchen? You must go to a nursing home for rehab where someone is there to help you get up from your bed. But I don’t want to go to a nursing home, I don’t think they are very good. I hear they have 1 aide to 20 – 25 residents: that’s some crazy numbers.


There is an alternative to a nursing home. You can go to an assisted living for rehab. All assisted livings are 30 days at a time. What does that mean? That means that you can go, just like I did, to an assisted living community for a month or two and have your physical therapy come in and work with you there.


I went to a smaller 8 bed assisted living community and it was the best thing I could have done. It was private pay, but well worth it as my family must work and there was no one to care for me at home. The aides would get me up in the morning, take me into the bathroom where I could wash up, and dress me. They would then take me out to the dining room for breakfast; some days I would get up so early I would have a small breakfast in my room so as not to wake the others. I didn’t have to cook or clean anything; it was great!


After breakfast, they’d take me back to my room because I wanted to say my daily prayers, where my bed was made and ready for the evening. After my prayers, I could watch television in my room, read the newspaper, or join the other residents for activities; it was always my choice.


Lunch would be served around noon, and I could never eat as much as they served because I was still full of breakfast so I would just have some soup and crackers or something light. After lunch it was time for my physical therapy and what a workout I would get. I would usually have to take a nap after that or try to do some of the exercises they gave me. I wanted to get better quickly!


I would watch my afternoon programs and then the news. I asked for a shower every other day and they were very accommodating. There was always someone there to assist me in everything I did; I felt extremely safe in their capable hands. Dinner was around 5:30 or 6:00 and after dinner they would help me get into the bathroom to wash up again and get me into my night clothes.


I had a bell to ring if I needed something while in my room and whenever I had to ring it, someone was right there to assist. All my medications were given to me on time; another thing I didn’t have to worry about. I would retire for the evening when I was ready, there was no set time and would start over the next day; only difference is it would be occupational therapy instead of physical therapy.


This may not sound like a great time to you, but it is so much better than being in a nursing home where you may not be able to get up out of your bed for hours at a time. And who knows if you can join the others staying there and if they have activities or not.



Yes, it was a little costly, but it was well worth it to me, and I would do it again if I must, but I’m hoping we never cross that bridge again!

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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