Aging in place can be an excellent choice when everything falls into place, but how can you tell if you or an elderly loved one should make the move to senior assisted living in Elkton, FL? When you or a loved one are having trouble meeting their daily care needs or experiencing social isolation, making the move to a retirement community can be in your best interests. Read on to find out some signs that they are ready to make the move!
The Home Is Not Well-Maintained
Of course, how tidy a home usually is can depend on the individual. However, if your loved one is a stickler for cleanliness and they have suddenly let the home go, they may be experiencing more difficulty than they are letting in. Does a mobility limitation make it difficult for them to tend to housekeeping? Or do they have a vision impairment that would make doing certain tasks dangerous?
Your Loved One Has Not Been Eating Well
Take a look in your loved one’s pantry and refrigerator: is it well-stocked? What types of food are in there? If the kitchen is nearly empty or stocked full of processed foods and microwave meals, this is a sign that your loved one can benefit from making the move to an assisted living community. Maintaining a well-balanced diet is essential for health in the golden years, and not eating well is a sign that things need to change.
Personal Hygiene Is a Concern
Does your loved one seem to be wearing the same clothes every time you come over? Do you notice that they only shower when you come over because they are afraid of taking a fall with no one around? Take a closer look at other personal care tasks such as grooming and dressing – are they able to accomplish these independently? If not, this could be having a negative impact on their quality of life.
Health Conditions Are Not Managed Adequately
Another reason to be concerned is when you or your loved one are not managing your health condition(s) adequately. This is especially pertinent when it comes to medication management. If you have numerous types of medications that need to be taken at different times of the day, it can be easy to lose track of them, miss pills or even overdose unknowingly. Any of these mistakes can have serve consequences, making aging in place a dangerous choice.
Social Isolation
Being able to tend to daily care is important, no doubt. However, when you are socially isolated, this can also take a toll on all aspects of health, starting with mental health. Consequently, this can put you at higher risk of developing certain conditions. If you have stopped driving and find yourself stuck at home with no one to interact with and no means of getting out there, consider making the move to a retirement community today, where you will be surrounded by friendly neighbors all the time!
