Is it time for Assisted Living?

Should Mom or Dad live in an assisted living community?

7 out of 10 people live in an assisted living community in their lifetime.

There are multiple things to consider when determining if Mom or Dad should live in an assisted living community. Merriam Webster defines Assisted Living as "a system of housing and limited care that is designed for senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities but do not require care in a nursing home —often hyphenated when used attributively". There are different levels of assisted living. There is independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care. Each level offers different types and levels of assistance. Today we are specifically addressing Assisted Living. If your loved one doesn't quite fit this level or if needs more or less assistance you could go up or down a level. We will discuss the different levels in another blog.

There are different items to look at to assist in determining if a loved one would benefit from assisted living.

Tip #1 - Mobility

Your loved one could be using a walker, a wheelchair or nothing at all. Using these items would not determine if they need to move to an assisted living facility (ALF). However, if due to lack of mobility family member is unable to complete general tasks, that maybe a reason for assisted living. If your family member has experienced falls or if you notice they are walking while balancing on furniture you may want to check into added assistance. A family members inability to ambulate around their home could cause a fall or cause them not to be able to complete daily tasks. An assisted living community would assist them in ambulating and completing daily tasks, like, toileting, bathing, grooming, and tasks of interests.

Tip #2 - Health

In order to maintain your health you must attend doctors appointments and manage your medications. If you find your family member is taking the wrong medications or is missing taking medications. Further assistance maybe needed to assist in managing the medications. They could also assist in taking the family member to appointments. This ensures the family members health is properly managed.

" Assisted Living is far harder than assisted death, but its possibilities are far greater, as well."

Tip #3 - Home Tasks

If you find tasks that usually your family member enjoys but now they are drained from completing them. Hobbies or tasks that your family members enjoy are just that. Tasks that they enjoy. If you find even after completing those they are drained and unable to complete at home tasks you may want to check into assisted living. Hobbies that a family member enjoys should not be draining. The family member should want to complete these. They should find them enjoyable and not draining. By being drained from the tasks they enjoy, the home tasks will suffer. By living in an assisted living community, it allows them to focus on the tasks they enjoy and not having to worry about things they don't enjoy or are too tired to complete.

Tip #4 - Mental Health

If you find that your family member is lonely or depressed from living at home, an assisted living community could help. In an assisted living community your family member would meet new people, could participate in activities and still have the family visit. It would allow them to be involved in activities or watch entertainment in a daily basis. As previously stated it allows your loved one to focus on activities they enjoy.

Is it time for an Assisted Living Community?

Truth is, only you know. You know your family member the best. If you find they are struggling completing everyday tasks, they are having falls, or missing medications; these may all be signs to look into an assisted living community.

If you are interested in communities specifically in the Tampa Bay Area in Florida please reach out. We will be happy to assist you in finding the right community and determine if this is the right community for your family member. You can reach out at Heather@oneinamillionseniorliving.com.