When it comes to your parents and caring for them as they age, you want the best for them. Who would be best to care for them but their own children? However, the responsibility may be too great, particularly if the adult children are working full time, dealing with raising a family, putting their own children through college or living arrangements are not conducive to an extended family. When do you decide that an assisted living community makes sense?
Difficulty with Daily Tasks
You may be able to help your parents with larger tasks like home and yard care, plowing and shoveling, and general upkeep of their home, but chances are you won’t always be available for everyday tasks like cleaning, laundry, cooking and paying the bills. Eventually your parents may need assistance with managing medications, dressing, showering and hygiene. When the activities of daily living become too much of a responsibility for your parents, and things are not getting done, it may be time to consider alternative options such as assisted living.
Significant Weight Loss
Getting sufficient nutrition is a basic need for all. If your loved one fails to maintain a healthy weight, it could be because they are struggling to cook their own meals, or they may not have easy access to getting groceries. If they suffer from a loss of appetite, this may be indicative of a greater problem. While an obvious solution may be to cook meals in advance for them, the issue will continue. If your parents struggle with something as basic as eating enough, it may be time to consider assisted living where there are three nutritious meals provided daily in a restaurant-style setting.
Loneliness
Even if your loved one is in good physical and mental health, both are at risk if your loved one tends to spend most of their day alone. Isolation can negatively affect even the best of us, and seniors are no exception. If one’s activity and interaction with others is infrequent, then there can be an increase in mental and physical degradation. Having access to a community of people with whom they share common interests, and can socialize with, can be invaluable towards keeping your loved ones healthy and happy.
Memory Impairment
When your loved one starts forgetting how to perform basic tasks, or doesn’t remember recent events or activities, it could be a sign of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. While it may be manageable during its beginning stages, it may eventually require professional assistance. If you have a family member that is diagnosed or showing signs of memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s or other memory disorders, we highly recommend you inquire about our Beechwood Memory Care Community.
Is it Too Much Responsibility?
Many of the aforementioned tasks point to the fact that eventually, the responsibility of being a caregiver will become overwhelming, either due to other commitments or to lack of knowledge on how to handle inevitable situations. While it may be hard for you to admit, there will eventually be a point where you are no longer able to fulfill your loved one’s needs, and a supportive assisted living community may be the best option.
We understand that it is difficult to entrust the care of someone you love to anyone else. That’s why we provide all of our residents with the utmost attention needed. At Providence House we make sure that everyone is a priority, and that everyone feels comfortable and cared for. If you feel that your loved one requires some special care in their day-to-day lives, please fill out our information request form. Providence House would love to hear from you and assist in any way we can.