EVERY LIFE JOURNEY IS UNIQUE.
Even as we age, we continue to follow distinct paths and advance through the aging process in very different ways. As a result, there is no clearly defined point at which people begin to need help with day-to-day activities and would benefit from moving to an assisted-living community. However, there are certain signs that can help us determine when it might be a good time to make that transition, whether for ourselves or someone we love. They include (among others):
Activities of daily living are becoming more challenging Daily activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, and transitioning in and out of bed are an integral part of everyday life, and it’s not unusual to need a little help with these activities as we get older. But if you or a loved one is having significant difficulty with daily activities, necessitating a high level of direct care and oversight, assisted living might be a good option.
A chronic health condition is worsening Chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, or COPD, are often manageable at home during the early stages of the disease with a little help from family caregivers and routine medical visits. But as these conditions progress, symptoms often become more acute, expert medical care is needed more frequently, and effective at-home management tends to become more difficult. Choosing a quality assisted-living facility will not only promote more effective management of your chronic condition, but can also help free family members from the exhausting routine of around-the-clock caregiving.
Fall risk is on the rise
Declining strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and vision can significantly increase the risk of experiencing a debilitating fall as we age. Some of the signs that might indicate you or a loved one is at increased risk of falling are holding on to furniture and walls when walking; visual impairments; dizziness or impaired balance; weakness, numbness, or reduced sensation in the lower extremities; cognitive decline; and taking multiple medications. Older adults’ family members/ caregivers should also be on the lookout for evidence that their senior loved one is already experiencing falls, such as unexplained bumps, bruises, or abrasions.
Hygiene and cleanliness are declining Another common indicator that an older adult might be ready for assisted living is if he or she seems to be having increasing difficulty with personal hygiene or with routine household cleaning. The former may be evidenced by an unkempt appearance, body odor, and/or wearing the same clothing repeatedly; the latter by a cluttered living space, spilled food or beverages that aren’t wiped up, dirty dishes piling up in the sink and on counters, etc.
Healthy eating is getting harder As people age, a wide variety of physical, emotional, social, and economic factors can increase their risk of malnutrition. The signs of improper nutrition in older adults can be subtle and difficult to detect. Some of the warning signs include a once hearty eater losing his or her appetite or losing interest in favorite foods, unexplained weight loss or clothes fitting more loosely than normal, unhealthy skin tone, poor wound healing, a normally active individual becoming lethargic, and finding expired or spoiled food in your aging loved one’s refrigerator.
Medication is mismanaged Older adults often take multiple medications to treat various chronic ailments, but failing to take medications at the right time and in the proper dose can have serious health consequences. If adult children notice that their aging loved one is having increasing difficulty managing his or her medication schedule properly— skipping or doubling up on doses, forgetting whether they’ve taken a medication, etc.—it’s time to give some serious thought to assisted living.
Of course, many of the issues mentioned above go hand in hand with memory loss, which in and of itself can be another good reason to consider assisted living with memory support for an aging loved one. Some of the early warning signs to watch for include becoming lost or disoriented in familiar places, repeating stories or questions in the same conversation, forgetting how to do things the individual has done many times before, having difficulty recalling details of recent events or conversations, frequently forgetting appointments or activities, frequently struggling to find and use the right words in conversation, and exhibiting confusion about time and place.
It may seem counterintuitive, but choosing assisted living can actually help you or your aging loved one maximize independence and maintain the highest possible quality of life. By joining a community where help is provided for daily activities, the risk of falls and other accidents is significantly reduced, transportation concerns are eliminated, delicious and nutritious meals are provided, and social opportunities abound, older adults stand to gain much more than they leave behind when they make the transition to assisted living. ✲
