Are My Parents Ready to Move into An Assisted Living Community?

Some things in life are all but inevitable. Thinking about senior living options for your parents at some point is one of them. But, are you there yet? Are your parents ready to make the move to an assisted living community or do they simply need a little more support around the home?

Noticing these signs might help you discern what your parents truly need and how you can support them.

Signs It’s Time for an Assisted Living Community

Recent Falls

One of the biggest hard-to-miss signs is an increasing number of falls or near misses.

Have you noticed your parents feeling more and more disoriented lately? A bad knee or new medication can both increase their risk of falling.

Perhaps they are seeking more outside help getting up and down the stairs. They may have trouble walking or getting up after they’ve been sitting. Have there been any recent falls lately? If yes, then this is telling you now might be the time to move them to an assisted living facility.

Medical Conditions That May Be Getting Worse

Do your parents suffer from chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems, or arthritis? Do you notice any related signs and symptoms of these conditions getting worse?

Poorly controlled diabetes, for example, can cause neuropathy, which makes it difficult for seniors to feel their feet or extremities. Diabetes can also lead to worsening vision when poorly controlled, lessening their ability to get about independently.

Their hygiene and health level may also be declining. When seniors experience significant pain from different types of arthritis, it makes it difficult to shower or dress and perform these basic tasks. All these are signs that now is the time to make the move.

They Could Use The Convenience

The whole point of an assisted community is to create as convenient and comfortable an environment for the elderly as possible.

There is a team of medical experts available all the time. The living arrangement is such that they face the least amount of trouble. There’s all kinds of help for household work, services, and amenities that one simply cannot get in an in-house facility.

Many facilities offer seniors the option to buy into their meal plan, altogether eliminating the need to cook for themselves.

Increasing Episodes of Disorientation or Getting Lost

Have there been any instances where your elderly parent wandered out of the home without having any clear sense of where they were headed? Getting lost and frequent wandering are often signs of dementia.

If this has happened to your loved one, it’s best to talk to their doctor. Dementia sufferers benefit most from a memory care facility that is designed to ease confusion and anxiety, and is staffed by professionals trained at managing dementia behaviors.

Home Maintenance is Getting Difficult

Having a 3-bedroom home with a huge yard is wonderful when you have a family to take care of and kids to raise. But, as you reach retirement and when your kids have moved out, taking care of the house can become a troublesome chore.

Paying taxes, cleaning, raking leaves, home repairs, and overall maintenance can become more pain than comfort. This is one of the most common reasons that most seniors decide to downsize or move to an assisted living community.

Difficulty Managing Medications

Taking medications at the right time is a big part of preventing a health condition from worsening and keeping people healthy during old age. And so, if you notice your elderly parents are skipping their medications more frequently, this can be a huge concern.

You being employed full-time may not be in a position to help them.

Another reason why your aging parents are having difficulty managing medication could be due to financial reasons, or inability to refill or pick up their prescription. What’s more, the aid they get at an assisted living community will make sure they never skip on any of the medications.

Changes in Mood or Aggressive Behavior

Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s can cause anxiety, confusion, and paranoia, which trigger aggression in seniors. Some seniors may also exhibit erratic behavior following a stroke.

Oftentimes, a spouse may begin to feel unsafe around them and express concern over being left alone with them. The senior may pose a danger to themselves or others. These are tell-tale signs that it might be best if the senior was living in an assisted facility. In a skilled nursing facility, with the right amenities and rehabilitation support in place, professional staff are prepared to manage seniors’ difficult behaviors in a dignified and respectful manner.

General Sense of Dissatisfaction and Unhappiness

Sometimes living in isolation, cut off from your family or people of your age can lead to increasing episodes of anxiety and depression. This can lead to general dissatisfaction and a growing sense of unhappiness. You may notice your parent is more withdrawn, and express constant negativity.

Being surrounded by people of the same age in a senior facility could encourage them to socialize again, fight boredom, and ease that emotional pain.

How to Find the Best Assisted Living Community for Your Parents

Do Some Research

The first thing you would want to do is look up the available facilities in your target locations. After that, do some due diligence on each one.

The best place to start is the internet, of course. Look for reviews left by real people across different sites. Look to the Medicare Compare government site to find objective reviews on the quality of these facilities, as well as satisfaction ratings.

Often these reviews talk in detail about major aspects like medical care, sense of community, staff interaction, amenities, services, food quality, social activities, living arrangements, and so on.

Unless you come across something too alarming, don’t take negative reviews at face value. Everyone has their own experiences anyway and some reviewers are just determined to see the downside of everything.  

If your loved one has strong religious convictions, you might consider searching for faith-based senior living communities.

Affordability

You would never want to pick an option that’s out of your budget. So, it’s best if you work with a financial planner to see how your parents are going to budget and finance their stay.

A financial advisor will discuss the senior’s assets including houses available for sale, pension plans, retirement benefits, Veterans benefits, possible government aid, medical insurance, life insurance, and the like.

Services and Amenities

Most living facilities will offer standard services such as housekeeping, medication management, laundry, meals, and wellness programs. But, many even offer tailored services according to the senior’s health needs.

For example, there can be memory care units for dementia patients. Additionally, some facilities regularly bring in specialists to treat depression and heart problems. You could even find assisted living for pet owners if your family member cannot live without their pets.

Take Tours

Although there are virtual tours available these days on the internet; nothing can come close to the feeling of actually going and visiting the facility. A good facility will have no trouble arranging a tour for you.

While on premises, do check out the rooms, dining area, parks, sense of community, and the menu. Talk to the residents. Also, talk to the staff. Get to know the staff-to-resident ratio. You will know the right facility when you visit it.

Pick Somewhere Close to Home

Ideally, family members should be able to visit their senior parents whenever they can find the time. Therefore, it pays to pick a facility somewhere nearby. Make sure that the drive time is as short as possible.

Unless a family member is living out of the state, it doesn’t make much sense for your parents to live far away.

Regular visits from friends and family are a big part of healthy living during old age.

Bottom Line

Finding the right assisted living facility could give your parents the fresh and much-needed start they need and keep them safe. Nowadays, there are a large number of facilities to choose from. However, the key is to pick a facility that matches their needs and personality.