Is It Time for Assisted Living?

It’s hard to accept that our bodies seem slower and less agile with each year that passes by. It’s even harder to watch the same thing happen to our loved ones. You may notice that mom doesn’t take walks like she used to, or dad can’t mow the lawn anymore. Although it’s tempting to pass these things off as a natural part of aging, sometimes the best thing we can do to help our families is to help acknowledge the problem and get the assisted care they need. Below you will find a list of signs to watch for in seniors that may indicate they need the care of an assisted lifestyle:

Mobility Issues

This is a common reason why families examine assisted living for their senior loved ones. Mobility is essential in day-to-day activities. Routine issues may include going up and down stairs and operating a motor vehicle. Inability to perform everyday tasks due to lack of mobility may signal a need for more assistance.

Struggles with Personal Care

A senior parent may be struggling with daily personal hygiene, such as showering, maintaining clean clothes, dressing themselves, eating or other daily care activities.

Issues with Household or Financial Care

Household negligence can lead to serious problems, such as spoiled food, overflowing trash, or failure to pay bills.

Rise in Health Care Needs

It’s a given that with some health care needs, it can go above family’s emotional and physical ability to care for them, especially with dementia or other memory-related health issues. It’s nothing to feel guilty about, as it’s only human nature to be able to handle so much.

Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive decline can have severe consequences, especially when it comes to taking medications correctly, being unable to fix a meal or even if a loved one cannot remember to eat. If a senior loved one shows signs of confusion, poor judgment or other signs of cognitive impairment, assisted living is a good next step.

Behavior Problems

Behavior problems come into play for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. When a senior begins wandering, it’s a sign Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly progressing and affecting their daily life. If behavior problems such as aggression or anger arises in your loved one, it may be time to look into memory care assisted living.

Social Activities

If a senior family member gives up hobbies, withdraws from friends or is rarely leaving the house, that may be an indication of loneliness or depression, which may indicate a need for assisted living. If you are concerned that a loved one needs assisted living, contact Brookfield Assisted Living today to discuss how we can help care for your loved one.