Deciding how to care for an aging loved one can be a difficult task for families. Though everyone wishes to keep their family members near to them, at a certain point in life, they may require help with tasks now beyond their ability. When everyday tasks become too hard for your loved one or their health begins to deteriorate, it may be time for them to join an assisted living community.
Communities like the Mission at Agua Fria are created to care for your loved ones as they age. Tasks like cooking, cleaning, medication management, and much more are included in their stay, and residents find that they can lead a safe and fulfilling life within the community. If you’re wondering whether it’s time for your loved one to live in an assisted living community, try asking yourself some of these questions.
Are they struggling with daily activities?
One of the first things that can signal it may be time for assisted living is if your loved one is struggling with activities of daily living. These can include tasks like feeding themselves, getting dressed, or getting out of a bed or chair on their own. Daily activities such as these are essential to living a full life, and if they’re struggling to do so on their own or to do so safely, they may benefit from having some extra assistance.
When they join a senior community like the Mission at Agua Fria, your loved one won’t have to worry about completing these everyday tasks on their own. Healthy and delicious meals will be prepared for them by a chef three times a day and can either be enjoyed in a communal dining area or in the privacy of their apartment. Nursing staff and helpful aids are on call 24 hours a day to assist with tasks such as dressing, hygiene, and bathroom use and can take a lot of pressure off individuals struggling to do things on their own.
Have they been diagnosed with a serious illness?
As we age, health conditions become more common. According to AARP, “More than 70 million Americans ages 50 and older—four out of five older adults—suffer from at least one chronic condition.” When your loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness, having some extra help each day can be an asset to their health and overall happiness.
Health issues like dementia, which is common in older people, may make it unsafe for your loved one to live on their own. Memory care units in communities like the Mission at Agua Fria are staffed with professionals who are trained specifically in dementia care and able to keep your loved one safe while using cognitive exercises to combat their memory loss.
Other chronic health conditions can make it necessary for older adults to take multiple medications each day, which many seniors and their loved ones are uncomfortable being responsible for on their own. Assisted living communities offer medication management. With this assistance, the staff keeps track of all the medicine a resident is taking and the times of day each needs to be taken. They then administer the medicine to them so that the residents don’t have to keep track of them on their own. This helps to ensure that all required medicine is being taken on time and is a big relief for older adults and their families.
Are they struggling with finances?
Managing finances is a difficult task for many people, young and old, and is one that requires accuracy and attention to detail. As people age, it can become harder for them to maintain that responsibility. Seniors are also more susceptible to financial scams when they’re managing their money on their own.
If your loved one is beginning to miss payments on important bills, assisted living could be a solution. At assisted living, all of their finances are combined and paid to one space, giving them fewer bills to juggle and more security in how their money is being spent.
Are they lacking proper socialization?
After the loss of a spouse or the loss of similarly aged friends and family, it can become difficult for your loved one to socialize. Living alone can become unintentionally isolating, which can lead to loneliness and ultimately affect their health. According to the US National Library of Medicine, a study revealed that loneliness was related to poor psychological adjustment and dissatisfaction with family and social relationships and is one of the main three factors that can lead to depression in seniors and potentially cause suicide.
Assisted living is one of the best ways to address isolation in older adults. A community is filled with similarly aged people from all walks of life and promotes socialization in a variety of ways. Dining is one component of assisted living that can encourage seniors to socialize, as meals are served in a dining hall with ample seating and during the same times each day. It’s a great way to make a new friend while doing something essential during the day.
Assisted living communities also boast a variety of fun activities and amenities for older adults to enjoy, including scheduled outings around the region.
Is their house unusually untidy?
Not everyone keeps their home spotless at all hours of the day. Still, a normal level of cleanliness is kept by most people, and you’ll be able to notice if that level drops below normal. Keeping up with daily chores becomes more and more difficult as we age. Cleaning can take more time than it used to or require seniors to perform physical tasks that they’re no longer comfortable with. When you visit your loved one’s house, if it feels unusually unkempt, it may be time to consider assisted living.
When your loved one enters an assisted living community, there will be staff around at all hours of the day and night to assist them with these types of activities. Housekeeping and maintenance amenities are included at many assisted living communities, and so are laundry services. Residents are often relieved to not have to continue being responsible for these tasks, as it frees up their time to do more things they enjoy.