Many Baby Boomers now care for older parents. I was the caregiver for my mother the last six months of her life, and I know this is can be a tricky and often frustrating experience.
To help you decide if it may be time to move mom or dad out of the home and into an assisted living facility, here’s a great piece from my friend Rebecca Prouty, owner and president of Always Best Care in Temecula, CA.
6 Signs It May Be Time to Transition to Assisted Living
1) Your loved one has become more aggressive or confused at home. This is very common as dementia progresses. Seniors may be more easily agitated and frustrated with the world around them. They may be confused about where they are or what they are doing. This can be a safety risk and a red flag that more assistance is needed.
2) They are unsafe at home unless someone is with them. Is your loved one neglecting self-care or making mistakes such leaving the stove or oven on? Are dishes, laundry, or mail piling up and taking over? If your loved one seems to do better with monitoring and guidance from someone else to stay on top of daily activities, assisted living may be able to provide them with the support they need.
3) They require increasing levels of care. As seniors age, activities of daily living may become increasingly difficult. They may need more help getting up and down, preparing meals, getting showered or dressed, or countless other things. It can be time consuming to make sure they have help with everything they need. But in assisted living, there will be more help available on a regular basis.
4) They frequently wander. Keeping your loved one safe is a top priority. When they have a tendency to wander, it can be frightening, especially if it’s in the middle of the night. Just having a lock on the door may not be enough. When they need someone to be with them or watching them more frequently, making the choice to transition to assisted living may be the safer option than aging in place.
5) They have chronic health issues or are recovering from illness or injury. Young children tend to bounce back quickly, but for seniors, recovery can take much longer and be more taxing. If your loved one needs assistive devices such as a walker, wheelchair, or brace, or is required to take medication at certain times or participate in physical therapy, it can be a lot to manage at home. Assisted living provides them with more constant care and a greater level of medical assistance from trained professionals which can support recovery.
6) The demands on the family have become too great. As you care for an aging parent, don’t forget to care for yourself as well. It can be a lot to manage when you’re looking after their well-being and trying to meet your family’s needs. It’s okay to ask for help. You don’t have to try to do it all on your own. You can feel better knowing that your senior is getting the level of care and support they need in assisted living.
An in-home caregiver from Always Best Care can help your aging parent with a wide range of tasks and activities as they age in place, but once their needs increase and assisted living is the better option, Always Best Care can provide you with trusted referrals. They can help you get the information you need to make an informed decision and set your senior up for success. Call (855) 470-2273 to arrange a free consultation for in-home care or assisted living.
But if mom and dad are still strong enough to live independently, give me a call!
We can discuss some practical tips and discover if any of my programs or classes are a good fit for you.
If you’d like to schedule that call with me, just CLICK THIS LINK, and let me know in the message that you would like a 1-on-1 call with me right away and I will be in touch to schedule that – oh, and leave me your phone number in there too since email is not as reliable as it used to be! Thanks.
Lisa Teresi Harris is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer and author of the book Building Your Enduring Fitness. A certified Geri-Fit Instructor, she helps Boomers and seniors to regain and keep muscle strength, mobility, and energy.
Contact Lisa to inquire about a customized, in-home fitness program for you or a loved one.