8 Signs Your Parents Need Assisted Living

You have always known your parents as strong, independent people. However, time runs out on everyone, and our ability to operate at optimal capacity thins out as we age.

When this happens, chances are you will take over the responsibility of taking care of a parent on your own for as long as you can. However, with time it becomes apparent that you are not adequately equipped to provide them with the best care possible without help. When this happens, you need to the help of a retirement home or even an assisted living facility. Below are some of the signs that you should take your parent to an assisted living facility.

1. Caregiver Can’t Cope Anymore

If the person taking care of an ageing parent is overwhelmed by the responsibility, it’s time to start thinking about assisted living. Caring for an ageing parent could be a 24/7 job, and it could really wear someone down, especially if your loved is becoming overly dependent and needy. If they cannot perform simple tasks by themselves, this is a good indication as any that they need to be under institutionalized assisted care.

2. Too Many Accidents

As we age, our ability to take care of ourselves gets compromised. We are exposed to frequent accidents. Some of the most common are fall accidents that could be happening without your knowledge since you may not be around all the time. However, at an institution for assisted living, falls are rare since there are always hawk-eyed staff members around.

3. Frequent Need for Medical Care

If a loved one has a chronic condition that appears to be worsening, or perhaps they are slowly recovering from a severe injury, they require very close monitoring and prompt medical attention. In such situations, taking them to an assisted living facility is the best decision you can make.

4. Difficulty Taking Care of Themselves

When basic personal care tasks such as bathing and dressing become too difficult for a parent, it is time to move them into an assisted living facility. Some of the giveaway signs that a parent is having difficulty taking care of themselves include wearing the same dress or clothing for days on end or a faint odour, which could be evidence they have not been keeping themselves clean.

5. Poor Diet

Poor eating habits could lead to many complications. If you discover your loved one is not eating properly and is losing weight at an alarming rate, this could be the time to take him or her to an assisted living facility for specialized assisted care.

6. An Untidy, Unkempt, Cluttered House

Keeping a house clean and free of clutter is important. However, as people become more dependent with age, such simple tasks as keeping a house clean become very difficult. Good health is dependent on one’s ability to clean after themselves and to keep the house clean and tidy. If a loved one is no longer able to perform simple tasks such as cleaning where they live, it’s time to transfer them to an assisted living facility.

7. Loneliness

Aged parents may find themselves with no one to talk to since their companions and friends have passed on. At an assisted living facility, they get to meet new people and make friends with people their age, and with whom they share common interests.

8. The Tendency to Wander

Some people tend to forget things as they age. Due to memory lapses, a parent could wander off and forget how to get back home. This could be dangerous, especially if they are living on a busy street. As their cognitive ability wanes with age, an assisted living facility can provide a safer environment for them.