The Granville Assisted Living Center

Having been in the senior care industry for over 16 years, I have seen and experienced firsthand the changes that have taken place over the years. When I first started out I was marketing for a company back east that was fairly new to this arena. It was a difficult job trying to explain to families that moving Mom into an assisted living community was very different from putting Mom in a home.We live in incredibly fortunate times that we can offer our loved one a wide choice of places to live that will afford them a better quality of life then say even 10 years ago. Our communities offering assisted living in Denver and group homes give families today so much more to choose from so that more of moms wants as well as her needs will be met. We are to the point of customizing care down to providing transportation to take them to their favorite beautician. Many communities offer different programs to assist our residents in keeping fit. Exercise programs or fitness classes are geared for all levels of experience. You can attend armchair exercises or for the more mobile residents there is Tai Chi or yoga.The bottom line to this senior living narrative is that our job, for those who are employed by this industry, is to extend a persons quality of life to whatever heights they can dream of taking it. Whether it means bringing in art programs for those who have always wanted to try their hand at oil painting to those interested in learning woodworking or picking up where they left off years ago with their hobby. This is what we in the industry pledge to dedicate our lives for. The smaller facilities that care for up to 10 residents are springing up more and more frequently while the larger continuous care communities show that a one-size does not fit all.It is going to be interesting to watch how our industry unfolds new and amazing technologies as the baby boomers come of age. Who knows, we may not even recognize the new face of senior care.Editors Note: This article was written by Arleen Ryan of The Granville Assisted Living Center in Denver. She may be reached at 303-274-4400 or by email at: Arleen@thegranvilleassisted.com