Trying to Find a Quality Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility for Mom or Dad? An Aquarium Offers a Clue
If you're looking for an assisted living facility or nursing home for your parent, it can be a challenging experience. Quality care is key to overall well-being. A facility with an aquarium can give you a hint of overall quality.


Aquariums are a great way to provide joy and stimuli to seniors. Some research shows a connection between viewing fish in aquariums with positive well-being outcomes for older adults, especially those in long-term health care facilities.
Facilities that have an aquarium can provide insight on the quality of care offered helping you decide if they are the best one for Mom or Dad.
Reduced anxiety and stress have been noted in research. Aquariums can also help residents of long-term care facilities build social bonds with other patients creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The social activity interaction has positive effects on mood, pain, nutritional intake, and body weight.
When looking for a long-term health care facility for your loved one, look for a facility that offers quality enrichment. Facilities with aquariums provide a peaceful atmosphere and benefit your family member's health.
Studies have shown that viewing an aquarium can reduce stress and lower diastolic blood pressure in older adults. Those fish offer many benefits that enrich the quality of life.
Aquariums can be an easy way to achieve better health and quality of life for anyone living in a long-term care facility. While it shouldn't be the only form of enrichment, it's something to look for as it can indicate the facility's beliefs, values, and standards of care.
Well Kept Aquarium Shows How Much the Facility Cares
A facility with an aquarium can give you a hint of the overall quality of any long-term care facility. This is because aquariums take patience, time, and attention. A clean and beautiful tank shows the level of care and detail employees pay attention to. On the other hand, if an aquarium looks poorly cared for with a dirty tank and ill fish, this may be a forewarning of the facility's staff and management.
If they care poorly for the fish, how are they taking care of their residents? Too much of a jump? Not really. It is one of several things you can look at when visiting a potential facility.
Here are a few things items to consider when visiting a long-term care facility:
Be sure to check the overall cleanliness of the facility. Don't expect perfection, but it should at least be neat and well-maintained.
Use your nose. Do you smell of strong disinfectant or urine? If you do, it is a tale-tell sign that bedding, and clothing are not changed promptly.
Watch the residents as you tour the facility and take note of their hygiene. Are they fully dressed? Do the women have jewelry on and have their hair done? Look at their nails. Do the residents 'smell' as you walk by?
Look at the common areas and see if everything is neat and clean. Is there dust and dirt all over? Do the plants seem well maintained? Yes, look at that aquarium. Some facilities have bird aviaries. See if they are well maintained.
Check the staff. Review how they are dressed and groomed. Do they seem friendly and supportive?
Activity Adds to Quality of Life
An aquarium can be an excellent activity for residents. If they can get involved with the caring and feeding of the fish, it's another thing for them to look forward to and care about. They can also get involved with naming the fish, choosing new fish and decorations, and decorating the tank itself. Aquariums are the perfect way to add life and variety to a long-term care facility.
If the facility you're looking at has an aquarium, ask the staff if they involve their residents in the lives and caring of the fish.
Aquariums Can Make Residents Happy
Aside from the many health benefits of owning an aquarium, they're a great way to make people happy. The beautiful colors, intricate details, and vibrancy of life make everyone feel more joyful. Whether a resident is depressed, lonely, or anxious, the blue lights and calming sounds of an aquarium will have a positive effect on the mind and on a person's well-being.
In addition, for any residents struggling with mental health issues, having something to care for and love helps them find a reason to continue getting up in the morning.
Finding the right long-term care facility for a loved one can be very challenging. The costs of assisted living facilities, memory care facilities, and nursing homes are skyrocketing.
Get Help Finding Quality Care
LTC NEWS can help in several ways. We have put together several comprehensive guides to help you in your process:
LTC NEWS provides free assistance with no obligation to help you find quality care options. Plus, if your loved one has a Lon-Term Care Insurance policy, we can help complete the claims process. We have teamed up with Amada Senior Care, who will do all the work - free with no obligation.
Get help finding quality caregivers or long-term care facilities and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News.
Most people obtain Long-Term Care Insurance in their 50s. If you have not yet considered how to address the costs and burdens of aging, there is no better time than now.
About the Author
Mallory Knee is a freelance writer for multiple online publications where she can showcase her affinity for all things beauty and fashion. She particularly enjoys writing for communities of passionate women who come together for a shared interest and empower one another in the process. In her free time, you can find Mallory trying a fun new dinner recipe, practicing calligraphy, or hanging out with her family.
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Mallory Knee
Contributor since September 25th, 2020
Editor's Note
Long-term care is a cash flow problem but don't forget it is also a family problem. Family caregivers must often set aside their lives to become caregivers, something they are usually unprepared and untrained to do.
LTC Insurance is access to quality care that gives your loved ones the time to be loving and supportive and not have to be burdened as a caregiver.
Most people obtain coverage in their 50s.
Seek Professional Help Planning for Long-Term Care
Long-term care is a very specialized area, and few insurance agents and financial advisors have the expertise. Find a specialist who represents the top companies as premiums can vary over 100% between insurance companies. Leading specialists will often have over 500 clients with Long-Term Care Insurance.
A specialist will save you money, and you will have peace of mind knowing they are making the appropriate recommendations - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.
Experts recommend seeking the help of a qualified and experienced Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you find the right coverage. A specialist will match your age, health, and family history with the right coverage at the right price.
Planning Tools and Resources Available on LTC NEWS
Planning for the future is never easy, but long-term health care planning can be very complicated and comes with many emotions. Getting the right tools and resources will make the process much easier.
One of the goals is to reduce the stress and anxiety usually placed on your family at the time of crisis. LTC NEWS can be beneficial in providing you with important information for you to consider.
LTC NEWS has put in place several resources, including:
The LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator will show you the current and future cost of long-term health care services where you live. Plus, each state has vital state-specific information you should know - Cost of Care Calculator - Choose Your State | LTC News
The Ultimate Long-Term Care Guide is an outstanding read to help you get a good overview of the topic area.
Compare the major insurance companies that offer Long-Term Care Insurance products here - Top Insurers for Long-Term Care Insurance | LTC News.
A detailed tax guide that includes available tax incentives can be found by reviewing the Long-Term Care Tax Benefits Guide.
You might have questions and LTC NEWS provides the answers for many of the most asked questions here - Frequently Asked Questions | LTC News. Find all the resources available on LTC NEWS - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.
Advantages of Reverse Mortgages
Today's reverse mortgages for those aged 62 and older could be an ideal resource to fund a Long-Term Care Insurance policy OR even provide money to pay for care if you, or a loved one, already needs help and assistance. You might be eligible at younger ages as well.
Some people have much of their savings invested in their homes. With today's reverse mortgages, you can find ways to fund care solutions, care itself, and even help with cash flow during your retirement.
Learn more by asking questions to an expert. Mike Banner, LTC NEWS columnist and host of the TV Show "62 Who Knew" will answer your questions regarding caregiving, aging, health, retirement planning, long-term care, and reverse mortgages.
- Just "Ask Mike." - Reverse Mortgages | LTC News.
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