Signs that your loved one(s) may want to consider Assisted Living
Look for:
- Accident or near accident. Stopping by to visit your loved one and finding a bruise, a bump or open sore. When you inquire about it they brush it off as nothing (fearing that if they did say something you may scold them or discover they are incapable of being alone) or simply not recall how it happened. Worse yet, getting a phone call from the hospital informing you your mom or dad has had an accident. Thankfully, they were able to call for help but who responded and how long did it take? The fact is, accidents do happen and as people get older, the odds rise of this happening again.
- A chronic health condition that’s worsening or a slow recovery. An ongoing health issue such as COPD or Dementia usually means your loved one’s level of care is going to increase. A slow recovery may indicate your loved one needs additional help or may not be getting the proper care. Increasing difficulty managing the activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Noticeable weight loss
- A noticeable decline in activities & outside interests. Rarely wants to leave the home or leaves newspapers in the bushesUnopened personal mail/Unopened bills
- Letters from banks, creditors, or insurers
- Thank-you messages from unknown persons, charities or businesses. Seniors are common targets for fraudulent companies
- Stale or expired foods.
- Signs of fire. Burnt pots and pans or the oven is left on.
- Signs of lax housekeeping.
These are common signs that it may be time to discuss the subject of moving. Your loved one is showing signs that living alone is becoming difficult. Conversing about this concern in a non-biased way, you may find that your loved one has similar feelings about their safety and security. Listening to what they fear and being compassionate about what they’re experiencing is a positive approach. No one wants to be told what to do, especially when it’s coming from their child. Moving is hard at any age!
Caregivers’ signs it might be time for assisted living
Look for:
- How you’re doing. While this decision to remain in one’s home is not primarily about you — the son, daughter, grandchild, caregiver — your own exhaustion can be a good gauge of a decline in older adults’ ability to care for themselves. Keeping someone at home can require lots of hands-on support or care coordination, and this is time-consuming. If your loved one’s need for care is just plain wearing you out, or if a spouse or children are feeling the collective strain of your caregiving activities, these are major signs that it’s time to start looking at other options.
- Your loved one’s emotional state. Safety is crucial, of course, but so is emotional well-being. If someone living alone is riddled with anxieties or increasingly lonely, then that may tip the scales toward a move not solely based on health and safety reasons. Finally, realize that some of the information you collect is intangible — it has to do with feelings and emotions, and the stress levels of everyone involved.