Meeting seniors where they are and working with them as a team to achieve care goals works better than applying a blanket standard that doesn’t account for unique factors. Caregivers who build relationships with the seniors they care for are better equipped to understand their motivations, concerns, and goals. When people think about the benefits of personalized care for seniors they often name better health outcomes, quality of life improvements, and improved mental health.
But personalized care brings four additional benefits that transform the patient experience and affirm the skilled care decision for seniors and families.
Resident Experience Shouldn’t Be the Cost for Health and Safety, but an Essential Part of It
When families choose The Restoracy, their primary concerns are health and safety for their loved ones. They also don’t want to choose between health and safety and dignity, independence, and quality of life. That’s exactly the choice families have to make as the need for skilled care grows and facilities experience staffing shortages.
Receiving personalized care shouldn’t feel revolutionary, but with large patient to caregiver ratios and the high rates of burnout in the skilled care industry, it can feel unattainable at some facilities. Our outcomes data speaks volumes about the benefits of personalized care at The Restoracy.
Welfare Factors Reporting
| Quarter 1 2025 | Carmel Avg. | State Avg. | National Avg. |
| Falls with Major Injury | 1.64% | 3.73% | 3.40% |
| Urinary Tract Infections | 0.00% | 1.35% | 2.00% |
| Help with ADLs Increased | 4.76% | 13.79% | 14.13% |
| Walking/Locomotion Independently Worsened | 6.72% | 12.38% | 15.34% |
Indiana state averages fall below the national averages for key welfare factors for skilled care facilities and at The Restoracy, our averages are even lower. This means that seniors who call The Restoracy home are significantly less likely to experience falls with major injury, urinary tract infections, increased need for help with activities of daily living, and a decline in independent walking/locomotion.
Strengthening Family Relationships Through Individualized Support
Taking on the role of full-time caregiver for a senior loved one adds significantly to the mental and physical strain many senior caregivers already have as part of the sandwich generation. When skilled care facilities provide tailored care plans they provide peace of mind to family members. This allows families to prioritize meaningful quality time with their senior loved ones instead of managing logistical challenges.
Personalized care plans take into account both the health and safety needs, dignity, and independence goals of seniors. For example, if your mom values keeping her hair styled, The Restoracy team ensures she can make regular appointments with the on-site beautician.
Unlocking Community Connections and Fighting Loneliness
The 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA declared a loneliness epidemic in the U.S. in 2024. While it affects the population at large, homebound seniors can feel uniquely helpless to combat loneliness. Because community engagement and socializing directly connect to overall wellbeing, it’s an essential part of skilled care.
In care communities, large facilities with long, intimidating hallways sometimes create setbacks for seniors who fear getting disoriented or having trouble navigating the facility. Recognizing that social connections may decline during the transition to skilled care, The Restoracy created a small home model that eliminates the barrier of overwhelming hallways and invites residents to shared spaces including their patio, dining room, and open plan kitchen and living room.
As caregivers get to know each resident, they can encourage connections based on shared interests and experiences among staff and other residents. Also, activity directors create engaging events and activities that keep in mind interests, abilities, and the balance between novelty and familiarity. When well-designed activities draw residents together, they serve as a springboard for conversations.
Fostering Emotional Resilience Through Tailored Emotional Support
Emotional resilience supports health outcomes, overall life satisfaction, and reduced depression among seniors. From entering rehabilitation care with the goal of returning home, to making a new home at a skilled care facility, emotional resilience supports longevity and happiness. Not surprising, social and family connections support emotional resilience.
Caregivers are often the people seniors at care facilities see most often. Caregivers who build meaningful connections with residents can tailor their care, encouraging participation in enjoyable activities and providing opportunities to savor favorite meals or hobbies. Investing in these personal connections and tailoring social and emotional care based on each resident’s needs supports emotional resilience seniors can tap into in times of adversity and leverage every day for a more content life.
Beyond fostering daily emotional resilience, caregivers who know their patients will notice when additional support from a psychologist or psychiatrist may benefit them and offer this support quickly.
Encouraging Collaboration and Autonomy in Care Decisions
Loss of independence is among the top concerns seniors have when entering skilled care. They worry that they’ll lose the ability to make choices and decisions and participate in life in ways they value and enjoy. While age and health conditions may lead to a need for additional support with activities of daily living and healthcare management, personalized and engaged care plan development supports a strong foundation that provides for more control and independence.
When developing care plans, skilled care teams include medical providers and families to better understand a seniors care needs. But it’s a mistake if care teams don’t include seniors in these conversations. By including seniors, care teams preserve dignity and support resident independence while balancing it with health and safety concerns. Centering seniors in care planning conversations empowers them and builds trust with the care team.
Care plans are a cornerstone of personalized care, where including seniors in decision-making is crucial. But ways of preserving autonomy, choice, and independence go beyond this. Including seniors in meal and activity planning and providing opportunities for them to decide things like when they participate in physical therapy also improve patient experience through collaboration and autonomy in care decisions.
At The Restoracy of Carmel, Drew’s story is a great example. When Drew moved to The Restoracyfrom a different skilled nursing facility, one of the things he was excited about was receiving his meals still hot. He’d never imagined that he could also have direct input on the menu and chat with the cook while they prepared his meals. Eating nourishing meals is essential to senior health. Participating in menu planning and engaging with meal preparation allowed the care team to restore Drew’s sense of involvement and personal connection.
See Personalized Care in Action at The Restoracy
We know seniors and their family caregivers can feel overwhelmed by the prospect of selecting a skilled care, rehabilitation, or memory care facility. Our team is here to support you and answer your questions. Discover how The Restoracy personalizes senior care, fostering dignity, health, and familiarity when you join us for a tour.