Making a move is one of the most stressful decisions we make in our lives. Deciding when to move from independent to assisted living makes that decision even more difficult.
There comes a point in our lives where we need to evaluate if our living situation is no longer the right choice. We need to figure out if a move to a different community is in our best interest.
To help you, we’ve put together this thorough guide. Keep reading to learn the most pressing signs that indicate a move to assisted living is necessary.
Safety Concerns
Your safety is one of the biggest factors to consider when looking at the signs for assisted living. Frequent falls are the top warning signs that your safety is in danger. You could end up needing immediate medical attention without any way of calling for it.
Even if you’ve not fallen at home so far, declining energy levels can also contribute to safety concerns. Your energy may give out at the wrong time. You may fall asleep while cooking a meal in your oven.
Sometimes these safety concerns come from outside sources, such as friends or family. If they mention these concerns several times, take a moment to listen and analyze.
Are they making good points? It’ll be a relief for both you and your loved ones if you were to make a move to assisted living.
Medication Mishandling
As we age, the number of medications we take tends to increase. Juggling multiple pills, dosages, and timings can be overwhelming for people of all ages. While a pill reminder app and pill organizer can help, they’re not fool-proof methods.
Missing a pill or accidentally taking a high dosage can cause lasting harm to your well-being.
When you notice that you’re mishandling your pills more often than not, you’ll want to consider an assisted living transition. The community staff can help manage your pills and ensure you’re taking the right pills at the right times.
Personal Care Struggles
When energy levels are low, it’s easy to ignore personal care. Bathing can seem like too much effort. Changing clothes isn’t worth the exertion.
The problem with this is that these personal care tasks have an impact on your mental health. Once you’ve stopped doing one task, it’s much easier to skip other tasks. Soon, you’ll find yourself feeling uncomfortable with your own body with no real energy to fix it.
Sometimes declining personal care can even cause you to get sick. Take notice if you’re struggling with tasks such as:
- Showering
- Bathing
- Brushing teeth
- Hand washing
- Getting dressed
- Going to the bathroom
- Skincare
- Nail care
When these tasks become a problem, it could be time to seek extra help.
Increased Loneliness or Depression
Do you find yourself dealing with more mental lows than before? Are you isolating yourself from friends and family? Do you tend to avoid going out as much as possible?
It’s not uncommon for us to isolate ourselves as we age, even if we’re struggling with loneliness. When we’re feeling lonely, we’re more likely to stay home as depression sets in.
Moving from independent to assisted living means you have more chances to interact with other residents and staff. You’ll get to play games, watch movies, or participate in other community events. With these kinds of activities, you’ll reduce the risk of loneliness before it ever sets in.
Losing Weight
It can be a struggle to try and prepare three nutritious meals every day. Even if you have the energy to cook, it’s tricky to come up with a menu that’s both exciting and healthy. You might not even feel hungry so why put in the effort?
These problems can lead to a rapid decline in weight and overall health.
To maintain a healthy lifestyle, you need regular meals that are catered to your nutritional needs. Moving to senior living means you’ll have onsite staff to help encourage you to eat the right foods.
There will be a trained chef who can create interesting new meals for you to try so you won’t even feel like you’re forcing yourself to eat healthy foods.
House Chores
Putting off household chores should be a treat we gift ourselves after a hard day. It shouldn’t become the normal way of things at home.
A cluttered and messy home leads to heightened stress and depression. You’ll be less likely to invite friends and family over for visits. Dirty homes can also cause mold and bacteria growth which will impact your health.
If you realize that your home isn’t getting the care it needs, you’re also suffering from this lack of care.
In an assisted living community, staff can be there to help. They’ll do weekly cleanings, maintenance, and laundry for you so you never feel forced to live in a filthy apartment again.
Memory Difficulties
Being forgetful from time to time is a common thing that you shouldn’t worry about. When those forgetful moments impact your life and your well-being, however, it’s time to investigate further.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients require specialized care that is almost impossible to administer in independent living. Assisted living is the answer when memory issues become life-threatening. Even without a full diagnosis, you’ll need to speak with friends and family to notice when you’re struggling with senior care decisions.
With staff nearby at all times, seniors and their loved ones can rest assured that daily activities won’t present a danger.
Knowing When to Move From Independent to Assisted Living
It’s not an easy decision to choose when to move from independent to assisted living. When these signs begin to show up in your life, it’s time to consider the issue seriously. To make the decision easier, look for a trusted name in senior living to join.
SummerHouse Senior Living is a new name in Ridgeland, but we are part of a larger organization that has over 30 years of experience. This allows us to offer tried-and-true services, amenities, and activities to our community. Schedule a tour with us today and we’ll work together to elevate your way of living!
