While some signs of aging may simply mark the passing of time like a slower walking pace or a change in hair color, they may also be signs that it might be time for assisted living. An awareness of these signs can help both caregivers and older adults in the consideration of current needs and future living options. The following list of signs are good to keep in mind as you consider whether or not assisted living may be right for you or a loved one. Alternatively, connect with the team at Arbors of Hop Brook today to learn more about why our residences, services and amenities, and programs may be just what you’ve been looking for!
10 Signs It Might Be Time for Assisted Living
The decision to move anywhere, including into an assisted living community, may be relatively easy or require a substantial amount of time to make. When looking into assisted living near me, there are also many different factors to consider. In thinking about your own living situation or talking about the future with older adults in your life, the following list of 10 signs it might be time for assisted living may be helpful.
- There are changes to personal hygiene. Is clothing stained, the hair in some disarray or the person somewhat smelly? At some point, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living may become more difficult, which may be reflected in a person’s appearance. Personal care services are often available in assisted living communities to make these daily care efforts a little easier to manage.
- Home cleaning and maintenance are being neglected. As with personal hygiene, a once tidy house that now has food-covered dishes on tables, stained floors or multiple bags of garbage around often indicates greater difficulty with cleaning and other tasks. Moving into an assisted living community removes the stress and burden of home improvements and upkeep, like yardwork or vacuuming.
- Weight loss is evident or eating habits have changed significantly. Another sign that it might be time for assisted living is when making easy senior meals or even completing the preparation and clean-up associated with a meal delivery service is becoming harder. This difficulty may lead to missing or skipping meals or changes in one’s health.
- Medication management is a growing concern. As noted at A Place for Mom, the number of medications alone can increase the risk of confusion in taking them. Forgetting to take medicine or if it has already been taken are also potential dangers. In an assisted living community, care providers often monitor and administer medications in order to mitigate the dangers of missed or incorrect medication consumption.
- Bills aren’t being paid. Especially for individuals who have always been careful with their money and timely in paying bills prior to their due dates, this change may be an important indicator of increased stress in household management, memory issues or emerging concerns with organization or financial matters. For many people, moving into an assisted living community allows them to streamline and simplify their expenses.
- Memory issues are increasing. Issues with managing finances and medications may indicate cognitive concerns, particularly if problems are arising more frequently. As shared by the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms to watch out for include repeating the same questions frequently, routinely misplacing items in unusual places or word confusion.
- Transportation is limited or dangerous. Changes to eyesight or mobility may mean that people can no longer drive themselves around. Moving to an assisted living community often affords individuals increased access to transportation for medical appointments and grocery runs as well as a variety of social activities, as highlighted in the Community Calendar & Events at Arbors of Hop Brook.
- There are increased feelings of loneliness or changes in mood. A lack of social connection may be one reason that an elderly mother is never happy. The wellness programming available in communities like Arbors of Hop Brook often aims to provide a wide range of activities and social events for residents to enjoy, which can help reduce the potential for signs of depression in seniors.
- Appointments are more frequently missed. From a lack of transportation to forgetfulness, missing scheduled appointments may happen for many different reasons. While skipping a hair appointment may be disappointing, failure to appear for a medical appointment might be dangerous, especially if these events are scheduled specifically to monitor certain health conditions.
- Hospital visits are becoming more regular as are falls. Despite efforts with fall prevention, health monitoring, and regular gatherings with family and friends, hospital visits due to falls or other conditions are one telling sign that it might be time for assisted living.
Regardless of how many (if any) of the above signs that it might be time for assisted living apply to you or a loved one, a community designed with the current and future needs of older adults in mind may be appealing. A comprehensive care community like Arbors of Hop Brook provides a spectrum of amenities and services, which range from those that support independent living to those required for more substantial care. Contact our team today to schedule a tour or call to discuss any questions that you may have!