If you’re caring for a loved one, you know it can get difficult at times. Whether you’re caring for someone in their home or they live with you, obligations like work, school and family can make it hard to provide the level of care that person needs. While your efforts are certainly appreciated, it’s also important to recognize when your loved one might be able to receive better care at a retirement or assisted living community. Here are a few signs that it might be time for your loved one to move.
They Have Limited Mobility
There are many conditions that can lead to limited mobility, but they all can make the already labor-intensive job of caregiving even more difficult. Assisting a fully-grown adult with tasks like bathing, going up stairs and getting into bed can be physically exhausting and if you’ve got other obligations it may be too much for you to handle. The staff at retirement communities like American Senior Communities are specially trained to assist people with limited mobility, so making the move might be appropriate.
They Have Trouble with Hygiene and House Cleaning
A healthy body needs a healthy environment to thrive. Many health conditions can make it hard for older people to keep up with daily cleaning and hygiene tasks, either because they don’t have the physical strength to do them, or because they can’t remember to do them. In either case, poor hygiene and cluttered conditions at home are not healthy and can even be dangerous. So if you see your loved one struggling with these tasks, it may be time to move.
They are Exhibiting Symptoms of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia cause symptoms that can make everyday tasks nearly impossible. Changes in memory and mood can make it hard to remember important tasks like eating, taking medications, paying bills and more. Caring for a person with dementia requires special training that most people just don’t have. At American Senior Communities, our staff receives specialized instruction on how to assist people with dementia in performing their daily activities, plus we offer programs like our Auguste’s Cottage specifically tailored to improving the comfort and life quality of people living with these challenging diseases. Caring for someone with dementia is not something you should have to take on alone. If your loved one is living with any form of the disease, it’s okay to ask for help. Moving to a retirement community may be exactly what your loved one needs to have a high quality of life as they age.
When you really care for someone, it may not be easy to recognize when it’s time for them to make the transition to a senior living community. Fortunately, there are a number of signs you can look for to help you make that decision. The situations listed above are a good place to start, but if you’re not sure, do some research and don’t forget to talk to the Care Coordination Center at American Senior Communities. We can be an invaluable resource in assessing your loved one’s situation so you can ensure they’re always getting the best care possible. Give us a call at (888) 996-8272 to find out more; you can even schedule a tour of our communities. When the time comes for your loved one to move, you’ll rest easy knowing they’re getting the specialized care they need.
