For many people, the realization that their parent needs assisted living services comes as a shock — a sudden event making the transition a hurried and traumatic process that can be emotionally challenging for you and your loved one. However, by keeping an eye out for these signs, you can make this process a much smoother and more positive life event, and get your loved one the help they need to enjoy their later years.
Assisted living will benefit your parent if:
- They’ve had any recent accidents — or ‘almost’ accidents. Falls, health scares, car accidents and other events can leave your parent feeling shaken or unsure of themselves — and unfortunately, they occur more and more often as we age, often with worse consequences. Homes can become hazardous and driving can become dangerous. An assisted living community can help greatly reduce these risks.
- They’re struggling to recover from an injury or illness. Aging impacts our ability to bounce back from a hospital stay or health issue, and may further impact our loved one’s independence. Assisted living communities have the therapists and help on hand at all times to ensure optimal recovery support, and take the everyday load off at the same time.
- They’re neglecting activities of daily living (ADLs). Getting dressed, doing the grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning are just some of the activities needed to maintain independence. If you’re noticing these slipping in your loved one’s life, they may be struggling to keep up on their own.
- They are losing weight. Significant weight loss can be the result of anything from a health condition like cancer or depression, or the result of simply not being able to keep up with ADLs.
- They’re not engaging in social activities. An active social life brings a lot of happiness and purpose into life, and letting it fall away can signal that your parent needs help. They may be feeling depressed because their friends may have moved away, or they may be feeling isolated from their community.
- They are alone often. As we age, we become frailer, more isolated, and more vulnerable to health conditions and depression. Regular check-ins from friends, family and neighbors are essential to ensure a healthy level of companionship, and to detect a sudden health issue or fall, as well as to make sure they are really coping with daily life.
Assisted living in Gloucester County is a helping hand for parents and families
Pitman is an assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ, offering high quality assisted living services in a comfortable, well-supported and beautiful environment. As part of the United Methodist Communities network, we also offer rehabilitation, access to therapists, respite care and memory care and support services. We welcome seniors from all faith backgrounds.
To find out more about our assisted living community, please visit our website at https://pitman.umcommunities.org/ and contact us today for a personal tour.
Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/signs-parent-ready-assisted-living/
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