No one wants to move from their home into assisted living. Losing one’s independence is hard. However, in some cases, it is the best option to keep elderly or aging parents safe and healthy.
Some families try to keep their parents at home as long as possible–even having the family come in and help, while others hire caregivers.
To determine if it’s time for assisted living, or if your elderly parent can safely remain at home, take a good look at the present housing situation, health status and medical needs. Ask yourself these questions:
- Is your father telling you that he is eating, but you’re seeing food go bad in the refrigerator?
- Is your mother falling and doesn’t tell you? To determine the answer, is she covering up bruises she doesn’t want you to see?
- Is your mother wearing the same clothes over and over again? Can she bathe herself, groom adequately and launder clothes?
- When you look around the house or apartment, is it as neat as it used to be? Is your dad having trouble keeping up with housework?
- Is your mom remembering to take her medications correctly–with the right dosages and at the right time? When you check the medicine cabinet, are there medications that have expired?
- Are they able to operate appliances safely? Do they remember to turn appliances off when they are finished cooking?
- Is the home equipped with safety features such as grab bars and emergency response systems?
- Is there a plan in place to contact help in case of an emergency?
- Are they driving? Should they be driving? Do they have someone to pick them up?
- Are there stacks of papers and unpaid bills lying around?
- Do they have friends, or are they isolated from others most of the time?
- When you really look at your mom or dad do you see the bright and vibrant person from years ago, or do you see a more limited person who needs some help one hour a day, or even around the clock?
Making the decision to move a parent into assisted living is one of the hardest and most heart-wrenching decisions of your life. But if it keeps your parent healthy and safe and perhaps even happy, then it is probably for the best for the parent, the caregiver and the family.
Sunnymere provides Assisted Living services, which includes three meals a day, housekeeping, laundry and activities, helping them out of bed, getting dressed, showering, monitoring their medications, etc. Our staff is here 24/7 to help your folks, so that when you come to visit, you can actually enjoy your time together.
Call for more information: 630-898-7844.
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