The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) reveals over 835,000 Americans reside in assisted living facilities today. Assisted living is an ideal option for older persons who need help with daily activities such as medication management, keeping house, cooking, going to the bathroom, and keeping appointments. These facilities provide the safety and security of 24-hour support and care that one wouldn’t get at home or a retirement community. If you are wondering when the right time to take a senior member of is the family to an assisted living facility, here are a few signs:
More Help Is Needed with Daily Activities
Consider an assisted living facility if your loved one needs more help with daily activities, including bathing, dressing, mobility, or medication management. These activities can be stressful and overwhelming for the elderly.
Fortunately, assisted living facilities offer professional help with everyday tasks, including medication management, cleaning, bathing, vacuuming, and more.
Feelings of Loneliness or Isolation
Having an active life is crucial to the health and happiness of an older adult. Being alone most of the time could lead to depressions in seniors. Assisted living facilities offer a structured social life which is hugely beneficial to the members.
Alongside the positive interaction with caregivers, seniors in assisted living also get opportunities to make new friends and engage in social activities with other community members.
Safety Worries
If you are worried about the safety of a senior family member, consider assisted living. When mobility is limited, it can get complicated for the old to get out of bed or move around the house by themselves. Maybe you are worried about what will happen if they fall and can’t get up or get immediate help. Assisted living facilities coordinate around-the-clock care for their residents. The staff monitors residents to ensure they get immediate assistance when they need it.
Tired of Responsibilities
There are myriads of demanding responsibilities that come with living with a senior. Daily chores and home up keeping can trigger significant stress for caregivers and ailing seniors. Assisted living provides a home-like atmosphere for your loved one while taking care of all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, and laundry activities.
Lack of Proper Nutrition
Nutrition is one of the top reasons for considering an assisted living facility for a senior family member. In most cases, seniors lack the energy or resources to do grocery shopping. Besides, cooking their meals could be a challenge for ailing older persons. Lack of proper nutrition can have adverse effects on their health. Assisted living facilities provide adequate nutrition for their members, including three chef-prepared meals, diverse nutrients, and ingredients, fresh fruits, healthy snacks. They also offer the option to choose a special meal plan, for example, diabetic diets.
Transportation Challenges
If your loved one has trouble driving or can no longer drive, consider moving them to an assisted living. Public transportation and other alternatives may not be easy for the seniors, meaning they will increasingly become housebound. Luckily assisted living facilities provide transportation so the seniors can go to any place they want to be without relying on friends and family.
Aggressive Behavior
Some seniors, especially those with dementia, can behave aggressively or violently. If you have tried several ways or medications to reduce this behavior with little success, it means the senior is becoming a danger to themselves and everyone else. Assisted home facilities monitor the elderly for aggressive behavior and provide proactive help to minimize the risks of occurrences.
Risks of Getting Lost
If the senior is constantly trying to leave the house, thus increasing the risk of getting lost or injured, it is time to move them to an assisted living facility. Ideally, many seniors with conditions such as dementia often get ideas to go to specific places. Unfortunately, the damage in their brain means they may not know how to get there or come back home. Assisted living facilities are well secured to give you peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe and well taken care of.
Get Professional Help Today
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed from the demanding responsibility of caregiving can be expected. However, this stress can seriously affect your health and well-being and significantly diminish your ability to provide quality care. Being proactive and recognizing common signs it is time for assisted living is crucial.
Palm Cottages delivers high-quality, reliable, and assisted living safe care services for the residents of central Florida. Apart from the standard care services, our experts also provide personalized memory care services. Our mission is to enrich the quality of life for all our assisted living residents. Contact Palm Cottages today and request a guided tour.