Is It Time For Assisted Living?

No one embraces or looks forward to moving from their home into an assisted living facility. However, in some cases, it is the option most likely to keep aging parents safe and healthy.

To determine if it’s time for assisted living, or if your elderly parent can safely remain at home, take a good look at the present housing situation, health status and medical needs.

Some Signs You Should Be Looking For

  • Your parent tells you that (s)he is eating, but you’ve seen food go bad in their refrigerator.
  • Is your parent falling? One possible sign is that your parent is covering up bruises (s)he doesn’t want you to see.
  • Is your parent wearing the same clothes each time you visit? Are they bathing, grooming adequately or washing their clothes?
  • Is their house and yard as neat and clean as it used to be?
  • Does your parent remember to take their medication, with the right dosages and at the right time? Are any of their medications expired?
  • Can they operate their appliances safely? Do they frequently forget to turn the oven and burners off when they are finished cooking?
  • Is the home equipped with safety features such as grab bars and emergency response systems?
  • Do they have a plan in place to contact help in case of an emergency?
  • Are they still driving and should they be? Are there alternate means of transportation available to them?
  • Do you see piles of papers and unpaid bills lying around?
  • Do they have friends they socialize with, or are they isolated from others most of the time?
  • When you honestly look at your parent, do you see the bright and vibrant person from years ago, or do you see a person who needs some help whether one hour a day, or even around the clock?

Deciding to move a parent into assisted living will be one of the most difficult and most heart-wrenching decisions of your life. But if it keeps your parent healthy and safe and perhaps even happy, then it is probably the best choice for the parent, the caregiver and the family.