Assisted Living – Is it Time?

Assisted Living – Is it Time?

Assisted Living – Is it Time?


When we are young, our parents and grandparents were our strongest supporters, and typically the ones making sure we were well taken care of. When the time comes that the roles are reversed and we become responsible for the care of our senior loved ones, it can lead to overwhelming and extremely emotional feelings.


Realizing that your senior loved one can no longer live at home safely means that it is time to step in and advocate for their needs and well being. Making the decision to move into an assisted living facility can be hard for both you and your loved one.

According to the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, there are currently more than one million senior adults living in assisted living communities. Providing access to 24 hour care, these facilities are very beneficial for senior adults who need daily assistance with things like housekeeping or meals, but do not require skilled nursing care.

When is it time for Assisted Living?

Making the decision to move your loved one into an assisted living facility is usually not an easy one. Sometimes the hardest part is knowing when the time is right to make the move.


A broken hip or sudden downturn in health may speed up this decision, but it is often the case that there is no single clear sign that it is time. There are, however, less obvious clues that can make you aware that it is time for a change in the living arrangements for your senior loved one. We’ve listed some of these clues below to help with the decision making process.

– Frequent falls
When your senior loved one experiences falls frequently, it is a clear sign that it is no longer safe for them to live alone. There is a big possibility that they may be stuck for quite some time until help arrives, or that they may not be able to call for help at all. Assisted living facilities provide emergency call services for immediate help in case of a fall.

– Health deterioration

If you see that the health of your senior loved one is in decline, then it is probably time to give serious consideration to assisted living. If you notice they are taking longer to recover from an illness or injury, it could be a sign of a weakening immune system and the move may need to happen sooner, rather than later. Talk with your loved one’s doctor about your concerns. Access to 24 hour care may help improve their health. If your loved one is able, they should be included in the decision.

– Problems with managing medications

Is your senior loved one frequently skipping medications? If so, it’s important to find out why. Is it a result of financial strain caused by the cost of their prescriptions, or are they forgetting to take medications as prescribed? If cost is the concern, a Medicare supplemental insurance program can help. If they are forgetting to take medications, this is a sign that it may be time for assisted living. The facility has the staff to ensure medications are being taken as prescribed and on time.

– Problems with day to day activities

If you notice that your senior loved one is no longer actively taking care of things around the home like cleaning, doing the laundry, or maintaining their property, this could be a clear sign that they are in need of assistance with daily activities.

Can they still cook for themselves or are they mainly eating take out or frozen meals? Have you noticed a significant change in their weight recently? Rapid changes in weight, either gaining or losing weight, can be a clear indicator of serious medical issues or a sign that they are not able to properly prepare food for themselves. You should speak with your loved one about your concerns in their weight change, and address these concerns with their doctor as well.

Is your loved one maintaining personal hygiene? Do you notice a new body odor that wasn’t there before? This can be a clear indicator that your loved one is having trouble bathing and  maintaining their personal hygiene, which can not only put them at risk for infections, but can also increase the likelihood of mental and emotional decline.

All of these can be clear signs that your senior loved one is no longer able to live independently. An assisted living community gives seniors the needed assistance with day to day activities that they are struggling to manage on their own at home.

– Mobility issues

Have you noticed new or worsening issues that your senior loved one is having moving around the house or going up and down the stairs without assistance? If so, this can be a clear indicator that your loved one needs to move to a facility that can help with mobility issues for their own safety.

– Becoming disoriented or lost outside of the home

Getting lost or confused outside of the home is often a warning sign of dementia. Wandering without a clear sense of where they are going should be a big cause for concern. It’s important to speak with both your senior loved one and their doctor about these concerns if the problem persists. An assisted living facility offering mental care keeps them safe and helps ease anxiety and confusion for the senior adult.

– Changes in mood or behavior

If you notice a major change in mood or sudden aggressive behavior, this could be another warning sign of confusion or dementia.

Even if your senior loved one can live independently but you find they are often depressed or isolating themselves, moving to an assisted living community can really go a long way in helping to improve their mood and feelings of self worth.


Having an open and honest conversation about why your loved one feels sad so often, or why they are choosing to spend so much time alone can help get to the root of the problem, helping to make the decision whether or not to move into an assisted living community.

– Caregiver burnout

Being a caregiver can take its toll, both mentally and physically. As a full time caregiver, you may find yourself completely overwhelmed and exhausted, making it hard to provide the proper care for your senior loved one. Not only does this full time care place a lot of burden on the caregiver, the stress can cause harm to the senior both physically and mentally and jeopardize the relationship between the senior and caregiver long term.


The physical health repercussions of being a full time caregiver are shocking. According to the 2020 AARP Caregiving in the U.S. survey, more than half of the caregivers surveyed reported being diagnosed with two or more chronic conditions. Being a full time caregiver should not come at the expense of your own health, and consistent health problems may be a strong indicator that it is time to find an assisted living facility for your senior loved one.

Conclusion

Coming to the realization that someone you love needs full time assistance with day to day living can be hard. Understanding that you are not able to provide the care they need can be hard too. If, after reading the signs above, you feel that it is time to consider an assisted living community then it is time to have the talk with your senior loved one about their living options. You should include their doctor and a financial advisor in these conversations as well. Doing so allows both you and your loved one to better understand the senior living choices available.

Assisted living provides the support, safety and care needed while preserving the senior’s independence. At Jurney’s Assisted Living, we provide a wide variety of individualized personal care needs. We help seniors who need assistance with their activities of daily living, medication management support, and supervision in our around the clock Assisted Living community.

Our community is truly special. From the outdoor exercise walkways to the cozy private rooms, everything is planned for a homelike setting for our residents and their families. Comfort and convenience was designed into our rooms, the living areas located throughout the community, the spacious activity areas and the inviting dining room. Once you visit, you’ll recognize the caring staff and features that will enhance the quality of life for your loved one. Schedule a tour today to see for yourself just how amazing our senior community is!

 

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