According to research, one of the toughest decisions to make concerning the care of a loved one is knowing when it is time to consider moving them to an assisted living home. An assisted living home is a great step for seniors who need more help than their family members can provide, but don’t need round the clock nursing help. There is a lot of anxiety when it comes to families making this decision. Assisted living communities today offer so many amenities and social interactions that your loved one will be able to continue living an active life, just with a little extra help. If you are facing this decision, here are a few “signs” that might help you to know when it is time to make the move.
- Social Signs
Loneliness and isolation are linked to poor health. There are many reasons your loved one might be lonely or possibly isolating themselves. Is it harder for them to physically attend social events? Have some of their friends or their spouse passed away? If you have noticed social changes, then this might be a sign that they need more help. They might simply need new hobbies or stimulation which an assisted living home can offer them. A quality home will have many scheduled activities and social times that will help your loved one thrive again.
- Nutrition
Have you noticed your loved one losing weight? If they are living alone, they might be finding it harder to cook. Some seniors suffer from malnutrition because they aren’t choosing healthy options for themselves, or they might be skipping meals all together. In assisted living, they will be given three healthy, home cooked meals everyday to meet their dietary needs.
- Home Safety
The probability of falls and injuries increase as your loved gets older and you can’t watch them all the time. Does your loved one have dementia? Do you feel like it is unsafe to leave them home alone? If you or they feel unsafe during the times they are left alone, it is probably time to start looking for more help.
- Observe their Living Environment
If your loved one is still living in their own home, look for obvious signs that they are struggling to care for themselves. Is there a lot of clutter or signs of lack of cleaning? Take a look around the kitchen for expired foods or multiples of the same item. Take a walk around the house, are there signs of neglect? Look for unopened mail or bills piling up. These types of warning signs can sometimes point to cognitive trouble, which would require extra help.
There will be signs specific to your situation as well, because no one knows them better than you. If you are caring for someone in your home that needs extra help, or is a fall risk, or if you own an assisted living home the Raizer Lift Chair is an invaluable tool to have around. It will allow you to help your loved one without calling for extra assistance. It is easily stored and is assembled around the person, and with the touch of a button can help your loved one back up to an almost standing position in a matter of minutes. Visit us at www.rescuelift.com to learn more about this amazing chair.
