Many elderly diagnoses are hard to hear, not only for the elderly person, but for their caregivers as well. Oftentimes a diagnosis and related medical condition can make it hard for the person to remain living alone, and many times it is not possible for them to live with their grown children or other relatives. Assisted living is one alternative housing and care option for families to consider following an elderly diagnosis of conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, or others.
When to Consider Assisted Living
Many families find that assisted living is the best alternative to keeping their loved one in their own homes, or allowing the loved one or aging parent to live alone. Unfortunately, many people wait until a crisis situation occurs before they give assisted living serious consideration. By this time, however, the older person may have become frail and possibly will not be able to take full benefit from the advantages that are offered in an assisted living arrangement. Some signs that it may be time to consider assisted living following an elderly diagnosis of dementia, stroke, or other ailment, include:
- Wearing the same clothing for more than one day
- Taking fewer baths and allowing personal hygiene to decline
- Becoming burdened by housekeeping or laundry chores
- Skipping meals and losing weight
- Repeating questions or statements
- Wandering away from home
- Forgetting to pay bills
- Leaving appliances, like the stove, on
- Forgetting to take medicine, taking too much medicine, or too little
- Losing touch with friends and relatives
- Becoming isolated
- Sleeping a lot or showing signs of depression
- Loss of interest in activities
- Increasing fear or paranoia
- Fearing being alone, especially at night
- Becoming dependent on friends and family
- Becoming a fall risk and living in a home with stairs
- Difficulty getting on or off toilet or in and out of bathtub
How Assisted Living Can Help
Assisted living provides a home-like environment where elderly and other persons who are no longer able to provide all of their own personal care can be helped on a level that is particular to their situation. Personal care activities of daily living, like bathing, grooming, and dressing may be all that a resident requires; other residents may need to have their medication managed, or be provided with transportation to doctor’s appointments, shopping, or errands. Unlike a nursing home setting, an assisted living home offers residents an autonomous schedule that allows them to spend their days as they wish, in a much more private room or unit than is found in nursing homes. Although some assisted living homes feature their units with their own individual kitchens or a common kitchen area, others may only offer cafeteria or restaurant style dining. Housekeeping and laundry services are also available; everything is just based on what each individual resident needs. Assisted living homes also provide socialization and cultural activities for their residents, allowing them the opportunity to take day trips and participate in on-site activities that will enrich their social life.
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