In the United States, about 27% of adults aged 60 and above live alone. Given the increasing vulnerability of older persons, living alone can be quite detrimental. As your loved ones are aging, helping them decide where to live should be a priority.
Assisted living is arguably one of the most common options for senior housing. This setting boost mental, physical, and social health among seniors. You need to know the right time to get your loved ones assisted living.
If you’re wondering who qualifies for assisted living, this guide will be helpful. Please keep reading to know when it’s time for assisted living.
1. Slow Recovery From Illnesses
Our bodies become prone to diseases and other health conditions as we grow older. The immunity keeps receding with age, which makes recovery challenging. Seniors are likely to develop chronic conditions that keep escalating.
From heart conditions to Alzheimer’s disease, the number of illnesses that older persons deal with can be severe. Aging makes ailing seniors require more medical attention and care. With the inability to take care of themselves, elder assisted living is necessary.
If your parents have had a sickness that’s taking longer to recover, it’s time to consider assisted living. You might want to assess home care vs. nursing home to know the option that’s ideal for your loved one. It would be best to go for an option that your loved one finds comfortable.
2. Unexplained Weight Loss
Unless your aging mom has been minding her weight through a lifestyle change, weight loss shouldn’t be taken lightly. Serious weight loss can be a symptom of other conditions or situations. If your parents appear thinner every time you visit them, it would be best to take action immediately.
Consider asking about the weight loss. In most cases, aging parents might say they are okay while their physical appearance says otherwise. When you’re not there to monitor them every day, their eating habits might become a concern.
It would be best to check whether they are eating their meals. Are you finding uneaten food in the fridge always? The chances are that your loved ones are neglecting themselves by failing to eat, and senior citizen assisted living might be the right move.
3. Increased Falls and Accidents
Did you know that one in four older adults fall every year? In fact, about 3 million older persons visit emergency departments to address fall injuries. These fall accidents cause severe injuries such as head injury or broken bones.
Unfortunately, half of these senior citizens hardly open up about their falling incidents. Falls are quite alarming as they can be fatal. If you’ve been wondering who qualifies for assisted living, a senior who has more than one episode of falling should be given priority.
If an older person is living alone, a fall should be a sign that you need to get them help. These older adults need to be in an environment where they get a quick response if they fall. With assisted living, you don’t have to worry about your parent’s declining mobility.
4. Deteriorating Hygiene
Poor hygiene can have a host of problems for older persons. Besides being a recipe for several sicknesses, it can cause other accidents such as falls and sprains. Aging persons might get to a point where self-care becomes a challenge.
Most of these older persons lack the motivation to take care of themselves. You might start noticing signs such as bad odor and messy grooming habits, which can be an indication that doing laundry or bathing has become a challenge. Bad breath can be another sign to look out for.
Other than possible illnesses, poor hygiene can cause an older person to have low self-esteem. They might not be keen on social events. When you note these signs, assisted living for the elderly is an option that can help to improve one’s health and wellness.
5. Monetary Challenges
Financial responsibilities tend to challenge most people as they age. Older persons are more likely to have piling bills because they lack the motivation to pay or are financially strained. It wouldn’t be surprising to find a stack of unopened mails from utility companies.
Senior citizens with conditions such as dementia might not be in a position to reason abstractly. They might find it hard to handle numbers. As such, they will face challenges taking care of bills and doing taxes.
Financial scammers often target seniors. If your loved ones’ accounts show some unexplainable financial activities, it’s time to intervene. Having someone to take care of the seniors can be essential in addressing such concerns.
With the availability of helpful resources, having your loved one age at home is worth it. You can let them experience the joy of aging at home by getting the right home care assistance. The choice of assisted living should consider the physical and emotional needs of the older person in question.
6. Isolation
Isolation for seniors is a problem that you can’t afford to ignore. As it stands, more than 12 million Americans above 65 years live alone. The isolation has adverse effects on the health of these older adults.
Seniors who isolate themselves decrease the frequency in which they interact with their networks or participate in things they love. Consequently, they are likely to suffer from depression and addiction. Worse still, isolation plays a central role in seniors’ mortality.
If your loved one has not been leaving the house for days or they just stopped participating in activities they enjoyed, the isolation can be damaging. You should seek to get an honest reason for the change of behavior. Once you identify the problems they are facing, you’ll decide whether an assisted living will be of help.
A Person Who Qualifies for Assisted Living Exhibits Signs That You Can’t Miss
From unexplainable weight loss to delays in recovery, there are aspects of senior living that should prompt you to seek assisted living. If you have been wondering who qualifies for assisted living, you might need to check some of the signs displayed by older persons. Signs that can potentially harm a person’s physical and emotional well-being should prompt you to get your aging loved ones assisted living.
Do you need senior care services? Families Choice Home Care offers the best approach in providing compassionate care at your home. Contact us today for all your senior care needs.
Who Qualifies for Assisted Living?
