Trying to Find a Quality Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility for Mom or Dad? An Aquarium Offers a Clue

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:

• Finding a Quality Nursing Home | LTC News

• Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities | LTC News

• Adult Day Care Centers (ADCCs) | LTC News

• Finding Quality In-Home Care | LTC News 

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.