How do You Know it is Time to Look for an Assisted Living Facility

Taking care of your loved ones as they get older can be a great blessing, but at the same time a great responsibility. Caring for someone's daily living, whether a cherished family member or not, is a big commitment. As they get older and their health starts to decline, you can start to wonder whether or not the level of care they need is getting out of your ability to handle.

Maybe there's certain events that start to happen that make you question this. Is there a medical condition that keeps getting worse? Are they starting to require 24-hour care? Is the medication management too much for you to handle? All of these are valid concerns that can be out of your control. All you want is an incredible quality of life, and it may feel like you aren't the person for the job and whether you need to consider getting some help. 

Here are a few reasons that you might be in over your head and may want to get assisted care.

1. Declining Health 

Is their health continuing to get worse with more and more medication and medical attention being required? Are any chronic conditions they may have causing them stress and pain? Is your possibly little medical expertise a hindrance to them?

These are difficult questions, but ones that you need to think about if your loved one's health starts to decline. While the body starting to age and become weaker is normal as people age, too many health conditions that require medical care can be scary for someone looking to take care of someone. If skilled nursing care is something you think that your loved one could use, it's definitely time to consider moving them to a place that has the amenities that they need.

2. Daily Life Becomes a Chore

As people age, the requirements of daily living becomes higher and higher. Maybe your grandparent no longer cleans up after themselves and gives way to unsanitary living conditions. Perhaps they can no longer cook for themselves and aren't getting any nutritious foods. 

All of these are important problems that can arise with age and health problems. Especially if you can't be there for them on a regular basis, these can make for a difficult decision. There are certain needs one has on a day-to-day basis, and if these things are too hard for your loved one, it's definitely time to consider getting someone or moving them somewhere to help with their daily tasks. 

3. Caregiver Stress 

While we need to consider the health and safety of those we love, we also can't forget to take care of ourselves either. Taking care of someone who is outside the scope of your abilities to help can cause undue stress for everyone, especially yourself. While you may want to help your loved one stay more independent, it helps everyone in the long run if your stress levels are low. 

If you are spending a lot of time worrying and anxious about your loved one and their care, it is definitely time to think about assisted living and full-time care. Whether or not they are living in directly unsafe conditions, keeping an eye out for the common signs of aging is important. You shouldn't be hard on yourself if you need to get help for taking care of your loved ones, it doesn't have to be all on you.

4. Isolation and Depression

Human interaction and social activities are a vital part of mental health. Keeping engaged with one's community is a great way to stay active and keep your mind engaged. If you are noticing that your loved one is struggling to get out and meet other people, or they frequently have no visitors, this can be warning sign that can lead to depression and loneliness. 

Assisted living facilities can provide daily activities and the social interaction that people need to thrive. While you might be hesitant to take that leap and consider this option, this is a great option for those to meet people and are suffering from any kind of loneliness, having plenty of opportunities for socialization. While this isn't the only option of course, it's a great way to help out with your loved one's mental and emotional health, while also caring for their physical health as well.

5. Memory Loss 

Cognitive decline can be a major problem as people age. The loss of memory and low attention span that can follow can be a major issue in people's lives, especially if they want to remain independent. If they are forgetting whether or not they've taken medication that is a major concern, as medication mismanagement can be incredibly dangerous. Forgetting to clean your house is another big problem, leading to cluttered walkways and dirty surroundings. Hygiene can also fall to the wayside. 

A loss of memory can be a major problem, and is a common warning sign that you need to get them more help. Memory loss is one of the most important signs to watch for, and something that you definitely need to address should it begin happening, as it can easily lead to bad situations and accidental injuries.

Conclusion

Aging isn't easy, and the increased care that becomes required can be hard not only on the person, but on the caregiver as well. Navigating those waters can be a difficult and stress-inducing thing, and without the proper knowledge of what to look for, you might get help later than you needed it. Watching for these different signs is an important part of caring for people as they age and go through various health problems. 

While placing a dear parent in a nursing home or assisted living can be a difficult choice, it can be a necessary one because of the additional care and aid that they provide.