Is Your Loved One Ready For Assisted Living Care?

Do you know what to look for in a parent or loved one before having the conversation about moving into an independent or assisted living community? It’s not a conversation you want to have without doing some research ahead of time. Often times, an older adult will start to display signs that they are ready for extended care with even realizing it. Do not expect them to come to you to ask for help.

Recognizing signs that it’s time for additional care and taking action is key to improving health and overall quality of life for older adults. It isn’t always easy to identify these signs on your own, so don’t be afraid to talk with family members or friends. Below we’ve outlined a couple signs that someone is ready for assisted or independent living. Please feel free to contact our care team with any questions.

Difficulty with Activities of Daily Life (ADLs)

One of the major indicators that assisted living is needed is when daily activities — making meals, cleaning, paying bills, etc. — become too much. This can mean that tasks simply go undone or it’s obvious that they have become increasingly difficult for them to accomplish.  

Frequent Injuries

Keep an eye out for small injuries like bruises or cuts on your loved ones arms or legs. This can be a result of falling or losing balance and bumping into things. Home safety is one of the main reasons seniors opt for assisted living.

Neglect for Personal Care

Weight loss or lack of personal care is often another signal that extended care might be needed. When weight loss is involved, it could be as simple as difficulty preparing the food. In other cases, they may lose their appetite as a result of larger problem that needs to be addressed. Indicators of poor personal care include:

  • Neglect for household chores (i.e. watering houseplants, cleaning, etc.)
  • Not changing or washing clothes
  • No longer brushing teeth or showering
  • Accumulating clutter around the house

Increased Isolationism

Would your loved one would rather be alone? Do they struggle in social situations? Isolationism can actually impact an older adult’s overall health. While an assisted living community does offer less independence overall, it does offer access to a social community that can improve their health immensely.

Caregiver Burnout

One of the final signs that it’s time for extended car has little or nothing to do with the loved one in question. Instead, it has to do with the caregiver themselves. Let’s face it, caring for an older adult can be difficult and stressful — especially if care is being provided by a family member. Because of that, you need to look for these signs of caregiver burnout:

  • Constant fatigue
  • Loss of interest in hobbies
  • Changes in appetite, weight and sleeping patterns
  • Getting sick more often

How Can We Help?

You should feel feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to speak with one of our care specialists. Our staff understands that transitioning a loved one to an assisted or independent living community can be stressful, that’s why we do everything in our power to ensure it’s a positive experience for everyone involved.  

Questions about assisted living? Our team is ready to help!

Contact us today and we’ll help answer all of your questions about moving to assisted living. Contact our team today to get the answers you need.