Moving to an assisted living facility can be a daunting process, and just the thought alone can be very intimidating for a lot of people. Doing so will involve going through decades of household items, saying goodbye to different family members, and also parting ways with a home that you’ve lived in for a number of years.
It truly is the end of a chapter, a chapter that maybe you weren’t quite finished reading, and as sad as this may be, there does come a point when it is time to move to an assisted living facility. You may be wondering what it would actually involve and when you know you should move there. Well, this article is going to discuss that in more detail, specifically when you know that it is time to move into an assisted living facility.
What Actually Is an Assisted Living Facility?
Assisted living today and the community that comes with it have evolved to become better than ever and incredibly able to adapt to serving this generation of seniors.
A lot of the assisted living facilities that are in operation today offer their citizens a continuum of care and provide them with a huge range of services that can include engaging in fun activities and getting actual care such as with walking and memory. Make sure you also get to know the staff members when you visit a facility. This will help you decide if they are the right staff for your loved one. You can visit Caregiverlist to find out what you need to be looking out for. As such, residents are able to feel like part of a larger community, regardless of how your needs might change over time.
Take an assisted living facility such as Brandywine Colts Neck, which provides its citizens with a carefree and enjoyable way of living, encouraging them to really jump into their stride. The whole idea is to allow you to remain independent and live an independent lifestyle where you feel comfortable but also to be able to offer you the support that you need while you get older and your condition changes.
When Do You Know It Is Time to Embrace Assisted Living?
People are living longer and healthier lives than ever, and while this is positive, it does not stop the body or mind from deteriorating over time. It is important that you recognize the signs that suggest it may be time for you to embrace assisted living.
- You Have Frequent Feelings of Isolation or Loneliness
This can be a cause of concern for many seniors, and so if you have frequent feelings where you are overcome with the sensation of loneliness, isolation, and chronic loneliness, this is totally normal. It is mainly caused by having a lack of community, which can occur because you are unable to leave the property as much as you would like to or you have health issues that prevent you from doing so.
If you experience these feelings frequently, then it can lead to more serious problems, such as depression. This can also lead to unhealthy behaviors in an attempt to suppress these feelings, including the likes of smoking and abusing prescription medication; there is even an increased risk of mortality. This is why getting back into a community, such as that provided by an assisted living facility can do wonders for your mental health.
- A Decline in Health and Increase in Frailty
It is very common to develop a chronic medical condition as you get older. These will eventually require more care with age because as you get older, the chances of developing further chronic illnesses or illnesses that exacerbate the symptoms of such chronic illnesses increase. A chronic illness can make carrying out everyday tasks a bit more difficult.
While a lot of people use homecare tools in order to live with a chronic condition, it’s important to know when things are becoming too hard and accept that you might need additional help.
- Financial Mismanagement
As you get older, it can become harder to stay on top of paying bills, and carrying out online payments becomes more of a hindrance as well. If you begin to notice that there is an increase in the number of unpaid debts that you have and that you are getting increased interest in collectors, then it may be time to move to an assisted living facility. If you are a senior living on your own as well, then you are more at risk of the likes of financial scams.
- Poor Hygiene
The cleanliness of someone’s room and house is crucial when it comes to their health and wellness. Aging is often responsible for people beginning to fail to look after their cleanliness. Having a dirty home as the result of not cleaning it or hoarding different items can be a sign that it is time to move to an assisted living facility. This kind of uncleanliness is bad for your health, but it can also be a fire hazard, as any exits to the house may be blocked if you need to leave quickly.
This applies to your home but also to yourself. A lot of seniors are worried about taking a shower or bath because of the risk of a fall occurring in the bathroom. Infrequent bathing, messy hair, and dirty nails may all be a clear indication that it is time to move to an assisted living facility.
Conclusion
It is built into people to live independently, and as such, people are hesitant to admit that it is time for them to move to an assisted living facility. The fact is, assisted living facilities can be really good for seniors as they are provided with the facilities in order to look after themselves while also being given some helpful assistance wherever it is needed.
It is important to try and recognize when you might need some more help, whether this comes in the form of being part of a community, getting assistance with your movement, financial management, or cleanliness. Moving to an assisted living facility will likely give you a brand-new burst of energy that was not there before, as all of these issues are completely reduced.