Making the decision to move your elderly loved one into an assisted living facility is not an easy feat – emotionally or physically. Especially when your aging parent or grandparent has been living on their own for some time, it may be hard to tell them that it’s time for assisted living.
However, when it is evident that your loved one is in need of help with their daily routine and health care, it’s high time you consider assisted living facilities. But the question is, how will you know when it’s time for your elderly loved one to move into an assisted living facility?
The answer varies from person to person. But there are signs you can look out for so you can determine whether or not your loved one needs to make the move, such as a sudden change to their daily habits; having trouble with personal care, household care, and finances; and health needs that exceed beyond your abilities.
If you observe these signs on your loved one, it is an indication that they need the level of care that can be found in assisted living facilities. Here are 11 telltale signs that it’s time for assisted living:
- Accidents Happen More Often
As your loved one ages, they are more prone to accidents and close calls. In fact, accidents that happen to a senior often go unnoticed for quite a long time. If your loved one has experienced a fall or close calls, assisted living facilities is a good option for them since the staff is always around to check on your loved one.
- The Level of Care is Becoming
Generally, it’s tiring to be a caregiver. However, if you or your loved one becomes more and more tired and/or frustrated with the extent of care the senior requires, you may consider assisted living. Maybe your loved one is unable to perform the day-to-day tasks they’re used to, wearing down the caregiver even more.
- Medical Care is Needed More Often
If your loved one is recovering fairly slowly from an injury or if they have a worsening chronic disease, they would need constant medical monitoring. This is a huge indication that your loved one will benefit from being in an assisted living facility.
- Personal Care and Other Tasks Become More Challenging
Since most seniors like to stay independent for as long as possible, they may be claiming that they can properly perform daily tasks such as bathing and dressing. However, taking care of oneself becomes challenging as a person grows old. If you notice a faint body odor or if they have worn the same set of clothes for days on end, you may want to start scouting for assisted living facilities where your loved one can be well taken care of.
- Overlooked Bills, Payments, and other Financial Obligations
If your loved one keeps on forgetting to pay bills or paying it twice, investing in scams, or receiving final notices from creditors. This is a strong indication of memory problems and therefore, assisted living would be a better option for them.
- Diet is Affected
Does your loved one seem thinner and frail? One of the indications that you loved one needs to move into an assisted living is when you consistently see food going bad in their fridge or if they seem to be losing weight. This problem needs to be addressed immediately before it complicates.
- House Seems Untidy
We know that keeping a home clean and dirt-free contribute to the overall health of the people living in the home. Keeping a whole house clean may become a challenge as your loved one ages. Being unable to keep up with cleaning the house is another sign that entails your loved one may need to be in an assisted living facility.
- Lack of Social Contact
Social connection is important no matter how old you are. But when a person ages, they are prone to social isolation. This may be due to the fact that many of their friends or significant others have passed away or the social activities gradually decrease. With assisted living, they can form a new social circle and interact with other people through various recreational activities tailored for them.
- Dangerous Driving Habits
If you notice that your loved one is driving more dangerously than usual, such as unexplained dents and scratches or traffic tickets, this can lead to really bad results if not remedied immediately. When your loved one is in an assisted living facility, you won’t have to worry about transportation services since most facilities provide that.
- Being Home Alone Poses A Threat
As people age, it becomes harder for them to walk a flight of stairs every day. This will only lead to undone chores or even fatal falls. It is important to consider the overall condition of your loved one, as well as their current living situation. Additionally, if the senior tends to wander and lives on a busy and crowded street, it could be dangerous for them to go outside alone.
- Signs of Memory Loss
There may be a time when your elderly loved one becomes forgetful or their minds are no longer as active as it was when they were younger. If their memory begins to deteriorate and they develop cognitive impairments due to their age, it is safer for them to stay in assisted living facilities where they are taken care of 24/7.
Denial is Part of The Journey
There will be times, even when the signs are obvious, that the family or the senior are in denial that it’s time for assisted living. Especially when you’re dealing with your parent or a loved one and they’re unwilling to enter assisted living.
In fact, this situation is far too common. It’s just that most people don’t know how to deal with this matter – how to talk to their loved one about moving. If this is you, you might want to consult a geriatric care manager to help you through this tough time. These people are trained to handle these type of situations. If you don’t know where to find a geriatric care manager, you can visit the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers’ website and find one near you.
Be Realistic
It is important to assess your loved one’s needs before making the big move because there are different types of senior communities and each caters to various needs and conditions of the seniors. By definition, an assisted living facility intends to bridge the gap between skilled nursing and full independence. You, the caregiver, or your loved one’s doctor will know exactly what your loved one needs in terms of the level of care.
Taking care of your elderly loved one does not have to be difficult. If you think that it’s time for your loved one to move into an assisted living facility, give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.
