Unfortunately, one of life’s most unpleasant truths is that our ability to care for ourselves drops as we get older. Now, we’re not saying one should get all pessimistic about it. Some folks help those who need such help. Does this sound a bit confusing? If so, know that we’re talking about senior living (or assisted living). The other unpleasant truth might be the fact that we always seem to wait until the last moment to decide that our loved ones need some special attention and guidance. That’s why we’ve gathered 5 signs it’s time to move into senior living. You’ll find them in the text below. But first, a word or two about the advantages of senior living.
Benefits of senior living
First, we’ll show you some of the benefits senior living programs offer their users. Keep in mind that sometimes we don’t have much of an alternative other than the one we’ll talk about today. So, yeah, try not to feel bad if you’re in the position to make such an important decision for someone else. And here’s why that “someone else” will enjoy senior living:
- One monthly price for most expenses—Worries about whether you’ve paid for this or that are over
- A sense of community—Social life doesn’t magically stop once you’re there
- No more working around the house
- Moving into senior living doesn’t mean you can’t continue to enjoy your hobbies—You can pick out a home that supports your hobbies
Hopefully, you’ve realized that moving into assisted (senior) living isn’t necessarily equal to being trapped inside the room, looking out the window, and reminiscing. It’s a lot more than that. Okay, now let’s see those signs!
#1 Issues with household chores
Let’s say you’ve noticed that your loved one has some trouble with keeping their home in a “healthy” condition. If certain household chores have become something of a challenge for your loved one, that might mean it’s time to consider the option of senior living. Some of these chores require certain physical prerequisites, and most seniors aren’t able to fulfill them. As we’ve said in the paragraph above, moving your loved one into an assisted living home will guarantee they’re enjoying a clean and healthy environment. In simplest terms, there will be no more housework. Also, enjoying hobbies instead of housework will boost your elderly’s confidence.
#2 Changes in appetite
If you’ve noticed that your loved one has lost some weight recently, that could be a sign that the person has been having some trouble caring for themself at home. Concerns with weight loss and general loss of appetite could very well indicate that opting for an assisted (senior) living would actually make sense. Here are some signs to watch out for:
- Forgetting (skipping) meals
- Decreased consumption of fluids
- General loss of appetite
The thing is: most senior living communities possess chefs in charge of cooking for your loved ones. The personnel at the facility will make sure that your senior loved one receives and consumes each meal that’s prepared. If they notice something’s awry with your loved one’s diet - they’ll surely know what to do.
#3 The trouble with driving
We can assume you’d agree with us if we were to say that the safety of our senior loved ones might just be our prime concern. That being said, one needs to think thoroughly about letting their seniors get behind the wheel. How to notice something’s wrong with their driving skills? You can watch out for scratches on their vehicle or road rage they weren’t so familiar with. Since assisted living facilities offer transportation services, you’ll never have to worry about your loved ones experiencing the risk of being injured while on the road.
If your aging loved ones have some trouble driving, it’s best you somehow eliminate that option by choosing senior living.
#4 Forgetfulness
Of course, one could’ve easily assumed we’d mention forgetfulness as one of the signs your loved one(s) should move into senior living. That’s because memory issues are often associated with the process of aging. Now, what are the signs you should pay attention to? If your loved one is having some issues with their memory, you’ll notice that they’re wandering around the house without a clear objective, getting lost, or they’re having some trouble remembering everyday details. All of this could very well mean they’re ready to be moved into assisted living. Here are some additional signs:
- Repetitive questions
- Unexpected mood changes
- General time or space confusion
Many senior living communities offer so-called memory care. With this kind of program, you’ll help your aging loved ones make the transition easier. In other words, they’ll be helping seniors adjust to a new home and smoothly adjust to the amount of support they need.
#5 Injuries at home (or anywhere)
Last but not least, on our list of five signs it’s time to move into senior living, we’ve got injuries at home (or anyplace else). If injuries at home become something you’d call common inside your aging loved one’s home, it might be your least subtle sign that it’s time to move into senior living. If there aren’t any safety features installed (such as well-lit walkways or stairs and shower handles), there’s a chance your loved ones might experience an accident at home. Eventually, that’s how many folks end up in senior living communities. However, if you act before that happens, you might save your loved one’s health. These communities are built to help our elderly enjoy the rest of their time in the safest manner possible. You won’t have to worry about a thing!
The bottom line about signs it’s time to move into senior living
Okay, so now that you’ve seen the 5 signs it’s time to move into senior living, and you hopefully have a better idea of what to do. Hopefully, you’ve noticed that helping your aging loved ones move into senior living isn’t the same as giving up on them. Quite the contrary! You’d do much worse by letting them live on their own in a home that represents something of a security risk. If you notice any of the things we’ve mentioned above, consider the option of assisted living