When is it time to move to an Assisted Living?

Simply said, it’s time to move to an assisted living when the transition will ease the stress and relieve anxiety of either the senior themselves or the family caregivers. Assisted living is the best choice if your parent or spouse needs more individual attention and personal care than they can get or afford in the home, however doesn’t need 24-hour medical care and supervision that you would receive in a nursing home. When assessing whether or not you or your loved one should consider moving to an assisted living facility, there are a number of signs that could determine whether or not it would be the right move.

Ask yourself these following questions and if your answer is yes to many, assisted living may be the best and safest move for you or your loved one:

Safety

Any recent falls or accidents?

Driving mishaps?

Unexplained bruises or cuts?

Prone to wander?

Leaving the stove-top on?

Health

Struggling with failing eyesight?

Poor balance?

Forgetting to take medications?

Hygiene

Wearing the same clothes day after day?

Struggling with personal bathing and toileting?

Housekeeping

Dishes not getting washed?

Home looking less tidy and more cluttered?

Unopened mail accumulating?

Bills going unpaid?

Dietary

Losing/gaining weight?

Expired or no food in the refrigerator?

Unable to get to the grocery store?

Social

Calling/seeing family and friends infrequently?

Alone more often than not?

No longer attending church or other social activities?

We understand that making the decision for your spouse or family member to move to an assisted/independent living can be difficult. The transition to senior living care is often viewed as a permanent blow to a senior’s freedom and independence, which is why most seniors avoid the topic entirely. Adult children and spouses also often avoid this topic because they are unsure how to bring the subject up without knowing how their loved ones will react, as well as possibly feeling guilty that they can no longer take care of their loved ones personal needs.

The transition from home to an assisted living community often goes much smoother when it happens sooner than must needed later. When the subject is initially brought up, that is the first step of having a plan in place for your loved one. Unfortunately, many families delay broaching the topic of assisted living for too long. Sometimes an unexpected medical crisis or accident can suddenly demand a higher level of care, causing the family the stress of frantically researching senior living options, wishing they had done so earlier. Mentioning the topic of assisted living before it is needed is important to help ease the fear and anxiety of your loved one.