Making the decision to move your loved one to an assisted living community is both emotional and challenging for everyone involved. Even so, it is a decision that also can bring peace of mind for family members and open doors of opportunity for seniors to continue to lie a fulfilled life. Some seniors readily accept the fact of the need for additional support while others are resistant to admit the need exists. It helps when the decision can be made with everyone included – seniors, loved ones, and caregivers – but there are times when due to diminished cognitive function that the decision must be made by family members and caregivers. While there is no instruction manual for determining when it’s time to move to assisted living, these tips can help in the decision making process.
Is Your Loved One Able to Perform Daily Activities as Needed?
The ability to perform daily activities is among the top considerations when considering a move to assisted living. If an individual who is living independently is facing challenges in performing daily activities such as bathing, dressing, getting in and out of bed, feeding, toileting, and continence issues, he or she might be better served in an assisted living community. As you review the daily activities of your loved one, noting what activities they can or cannot do will determine the level of help they may require. If they continue to do the majority of these activities, they may just need some help at home, but if they can only do one or two of these without help, assisted living will provide the support needed.
Are There Growing Health Concerns?
Aging brings increasing health concerns. As your loved one ages, health issues can become more complicated and existing health problems can grow more severe. When either of these occurs, you may find an assisted living facility may be better able to help manage their condition with 24/7 nurses and caregivers onsite. If this applies, you will need to ensure the assisted living facilities you are considering for your senior can support the level of care required.
Are Household Duties Being Missed?
Household duties include everything from basic chores like doing laundry and dishes, housekeeping to paying bills and handling finances. If you have noticed laundry piling up, your loved one’s once tidy house becoming messy, or bills piling up, it may be time to look into an assisted living facility. Maintaining a household is challenging and can cause unwanted stress for seniors and their families, but assisted living communities offer housekeeping services which can help.
Are You a Stressed Caregiver?
Are you or a family member acting as caregiver? Is stress becoming a problem? As your loved one’s needs increase, so do the demands on the primary caregiver. This can also be a signal that more help is needed. An assisted living community can come alongside you to ensure your loved one gets the care needed to live well.
Are Forgetfulness and Falls Becoming an Issue?
The danger of falls often becomes a real issue with aging. If your loved one is experiencing falls due to disrepair of the home, misplace items, or rugs, it may be time for assisted living. Another potential consideration is missing medications. Missed medications as well as incorrect dosages can lead to greater medical issues. An assisted living facility will manage medications to ensure your beloved senior gets medications on time and in the right dosage.
Making the Transition and Meeting Transportation Needs
When making the transition to assisted living, many seniors must adjust to giving up their driving independence. Stellar Transportation can help ease the transition with door-through-door transportation services for your beloved senior.