If you have an aging parent, making the decision to seek out assisted living care can be difficult. Transitioning a parent away from independent living into a supervised care community often comes with emotional challenges that are difficult to navigate. And in many cases, the signs that an aging parent requires specialized care may not be readily apparent.
If you have an elderly parent and find yourself wondering, “When does my parent need assisted living?” you’ll find valuable information that can help you make the right decision for your loved one’s needs below.
5 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Though entering into a senior assisted living program can present challenges for both you and your parent, it’s important to acknowledge that professional care may be essential. To maintain long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive wellness, many aging seniors require supervised care when they can no longer successfully manage activities of daily living.
If you’ve noticed your mother or father having difficulty with everyday tasks and pondered the question, “When does my parent need assisted living?” watch for the following signs:
1. Unusual Emotional Behavior
If you’ve observed ongoing changes in the way your parent normally behaves, it may be time to consider a senior assisted living program. Aggression, whether physical or verbal, is a common symptom among elderly individuals who struggle with dementia and other memory issues.
Significant changes in your parent’s normal behavior not only place unnecessary stress on in-home caregivers, but they also create stress and tension for close family members. If your parent has exhibited emotional outbursts, it may be time to consider supervised senior care options.
2. Heightened Daily Care Needs
If you’re considering an assisted living community for your loved one, his or her daily care requirements are a primary determining factor. If your parent’s care needs extend beyond the scope of your physical abilities or an in-home caregiver’s abilities, the health and safety of all involved parties are at risk. Though seeking out an assisted living community may be emotionally challenging, escalating senior care needs frequently necessitate placement in a compassionate, supervised setting.
3. Potential Safety Hazards
Can your parent live safely, unsupervised, in his or her current home? If your parent is living with physical limitations or memory issues, he or she may be at risk for serious health complications or physical injuries without professional supervision.
4. Unexplained Wandering
Many seniors who struggle with progressing Alzheimer’s or dementia are prone to wandering during normal, everyday activities. In an unsupervised setting, wandering poses a significant threat to your parent’s health and safety as it can result in devastating falls and injuries. Worse, unintentional wandering, when compounded by memory issues, can cause your parent to forget where he or she is. If you’ve observed any degree of wandering, however infrequent, it’s likely time to begin considering senior assisted living.
5. Sundowning
Sundowning refers to a condition in which seniors exhibit unusually confused or agitated behavior during the latter stages of the day. “Sundowners syndrome” is common among aging seniors who struggle with advancing dementia, and unfortunately, it can severely disrupt normal daily routines and in-home caregiver responsibilities. If your parent exhibits uncharacteristic behavior that challenges caregivers and relatives, this may mean his or her needs extend beyond the scope of in-home care.
Explore Senior Living Options at Discovery Village
At Discovery Village At Westchase, we offer a variety of senior care programs designed to cater to a wide variety of personal needs and preferences. From senior assisted living and memory care to senior living catered dining meals and transportation, whatever your loved one’s needs, we’re here to cater to them. We strive to provide an exclusive, amenity-rich environment that affords our residents the ability to age in place gracefully while giving relatives unmatched peace of mind.
To learn more about our senior assisted living program or alternative senior lifestyle options, please contact our team today.
