Eldercare
Signs of Decline: How to Know if Your Elderly Loved One is Ready for Assisted Living
by Len Haberman
There are significant emotional and even practical barriers that make the decision to look at the option of assisted living, as a challenging and complex issue.
Arranging a new way of life for a dearly loved member of your family is never going to be a decision that is made lightly or overnight, but at the same time, there are often moments and signs that signal a point where it may be the best option for quality of life and care.
Making the decision to move a loved one to an assisted living facility is a difficult one and then there is the matter of where they should go. Read more here about what is involved in assisted living and also take note of the signs of decline outlined in this article, which may indicate that your loved one is ready for the move.
Red Flag Moments
There can be a number of situations that occur at intervals which could well signal that the time is right to consider assisted living.
These red flag moments are a clear indication that it may well be wise to start considering the option of moving your loved one to a facility where they will hopefully be safer and have the level of supervision that they need.
If there have been several recent accidents or close calls where you loved one has either had a fall or maybe some sort of medical scare, it may well just be an accident that could happen to any of us. Or it could be a red flag if the incidents are fairly frequent, to suggest that they may endangering themselves by being left alone for periods of time.
Other classic warning signs that you should take heed of are if your loved one takes longer than is normal to recover form an illness such as a cold or flu. If they already have health issues and these seem to be worsening, that is also a point where it may be wise to look at assisted living as a care option.
We all want to defend and maintain our level of independence, but if your loved one is starting to struggle with basic everyday activities and life skills that you need to live independently, it may be time to get an expert assessment of their current capabilities, which may help the decision process.
Social Connections
Thinking about assisted living is not just whether your loved one has some physical or health issues that need addressing, but it is also about the social aspects of living.
You need to think realistically about the level of social interaction and connections that they enjoy on a daily basis, especially as social circles do tend to reduce with age. You need to evaluate whether you family member still displays signs of active friendships, enjoying outings or meetings with friends or neighbors.
If they spend days at a time without leaving the house and they have cut back on their hobbies and interests, they may well enjoy greater social connections and a higher level of safety by moving to an assisted living facility where there will be plenty of opportunities for social interaction and their health and safety can be monitored.
Other warning signs to consider are if your loved one is struggling with handling their finances and if you take a look around their kitchen and find old expired food or multiples of the same item, that may well be an indication of some cognitive issues which could eventually affect their ability to function properly in their own home.
The decision to move a loved on to an assisted living facility is never going to be an easy one, but you also need to make sure you don’t ignore the warning signs that may suggest the time is right.
About the Author
Len Haberman, Esq., understands the problems associated with nursing homes and he has dedicated his life to advocating for victims. When he’s not in his office, he likes to sit down and share his experience with others. You can read his helpful posts on many websites and blogs today.
