Assisted living combines help and social life
DARTMOUTH — Margaret Cunha had relatives and friends, good health and a beautiful home, yet she could not help but feel lonesome after her husband passed away a few years ago.
“I would cry at home alone,” she said. “I would ask myself, ‘What I am going to do?’”
The 93-year-old, who has no children, thus started considering moving to an assisted living facility, after her niece introduced her to the idea.
For the last three years she has been living at the Emeritus at Dartmouth Village.
“I loved it there from the first day; I never regretted that decision and it’s one I should have made sooner,” Cunha said, praising the facilities’ services, caring staff and beautifully landscaped grounds.
While she can live as independently as possible in one of the 87 apartments Emeritus offers, she said she also has the peace of mind of knowing that a helping hand and tailored services to meet her needs are only a step away.
“They couldn’t be any better,” she added.
Every day, across the nation, countless individuals have to deal with the same issues, challenges and emotions that a decision like Cunha made entails.
In the last 20 years, the U.S. population aged 90 and older grew more than 2.5 times, from 720,000 to 1.9 million, according to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau commissioned by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health. By 2050, that number might swell to 9 million, according to the same study.
At the same time, family structure and dynamics have changed a great deal. The NIA estimates that around 7 million Americans are long-distance caregivers, making the assisted living a more appealing option for their loved ones.
Cunha initially joined the assisted living program at Emeritus, but as her needs changed she moved to the memory care program, which is geared to seniors affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia.
“We’re like a home away from home, and the family can have peace of mind,” explained Stella deSousa, memory care director at Emeritus.
In addition to housing, residents have access to a large array of services, ranging from meals and health care to recreational and social programs to keep people active and engaged physically and mentally.
“We always try to come up with something creative that exercises their mind,” deSousa said. “Our full-range of services are designed to provide the loving care people need for the body and mind. Our days are structured, and seniors thrive there.”
Fun activities are also planned each month, including shopping and dining outings, as well as concerts and visits to parks or the beach. Just last month, Emeritus held a “Elvis Day Celebration” to commemorate the King of Rock n’Roll’s birthday, during which residents sang and danced to his songs and one resident even dressed up like him.
“We really look forward to these,” said Cunha, admitting she can be a “social butterfly.”
In 2010, the average yearly cost in the United States for rent in an assisted living community was $39,000. According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the monthly fee for assisted living residences in the Commonwealth is typically $3,000 or more.
“Although we’re a private pay facility, in the long run it’s less expensive to have loved ones in assisted living than to go to a nursing home,” deSousa said. “A nurse will make an initial assessment, so the price varies with the person’s needs.”
For seniors who lack English proficiency, Emeritus has personnel fluent in Portuguese.
“We’re very fortunate to have Portuguese staff to provide long-care that you’d have at home,” said DeSousa.
Those interested in learning more about assisted living or Emeritus, located at 274 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth, can call 508-999-0404.
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