It is very difficult, especially on an emotional level, to decide when an aging parent, family member or even your spouse might need to move into an assisted living community. In some cases, a stroke or heart attack will make the transition necessary, but most of the time the decline in an individual’s functionality is so gradual that it is challenging to know when a love one would truly be best served by moving into assisted living.
If your aging parent or family member suffers from serious dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or the effects of a stroke, then they likely need to go into a nursing home or a board and care home. But what about seniors who can still take care of themselves but may be struggling on their own? You should consider suggesting assisted living if you feel that your loved one cannot safely live alone. If you worry about them falling on the stairs or in the bathroom, or you notice that they have difficulty moving around a large house, then it might be time to put them in a safer environment.
Another thing to look for is early dementia or physical difficulties such as hearing and vision loss, which can make it dangerous for a loved one to drive or use public transportation to travel to buy basic necessities like groceries.
Lastly, it’s important to assess your loved one’s quality of life. Just because they may move slowly and have some difficulties doesn’t mean your parent is in danger or wants to leave the house they’ve owned for decades. On the other hand, if your father just passed, your mother may feel lonely and depressed living all alone. In this situation, encouraging her to move into a semi-independent retirement community might be a great transition.
The best thing you can do when trying to decide if now is the time to suggest assisted living for someone you care about is to call Care Placement and speak to one of our placement specialists. We can assess your loved one’s unique situation and make a recommendation on if assisted living is appropriate for them. We can also provide guidance on what particular assisted living options would best serve that individual’s needs. Call us at (619) 660-8814 or visit us at www.CarePlacement.com to request a free consultation.