Assisted living is a great option for seniors who can no longer meet their needs at home. Seniors can benefit from moving to a state-of-the-art facility like Grand Oaks of Jensen Beach, where the staff provides companionship, assistance with everyday tasks, fun social activities, and skilled nursing care.

But when is it the right time to move to an assisted living facility? If you have a senior loved one who seems unsatisfied at home, you might be curious about the answer to this question. Here are a few signs that might indicate that your loved one would be happier and safer at an assisted living facility.

Loneliness

Your loved one has already seen their children move out. They may have had to say goodbye to their spouse. Chances are, they’ve lost dear friends and neighbors over the years. Grief and a sense of isolation can make seniors feel depressed and anxious. It can be hard to socialize the way they used to, and dealing with these mental health conditions can be just as debilitating as managing a physical condition.

If your loved one feels deeply lonely, spending more time with them in person or digitally can help, but ultimately, moving to an assisted living facility where they can enjoy the company of other seniors may be of more benefit.

Safety Reasons

The average family home is not specifically designed with the accessibility needs of seniors in mind. Have you seen your loved one struggle to simply walk to the kitchen, go up the stairs, or go in and out of their own front door? This should stand out as a red flag. Even very healthy seniors can easily trip, fall, and injure themselves at home, and if you are worried that this is a likely risk for your loved one, it’s definitely time to start thinking about assisted living.

Furthermore, you may even spot unaddressed maintenance issues in your loved one’s home. They may not be able to fix them, which can present further threats to their safety. In this case, your loved one would likely be more comfortable in assisted living.

Cleanliness

We all fall behind on domestic responsibilities sometimes, but for many seniors, keeping their large family homes clean can be quite difficult. According to Care, some seniors even display symptoms of hoarding. Overall, it might be very challenging for your loved one to thoroughly clean their house, especially if it has not been modified for their safety.

If your loved one’s house is too large for them to manage, downsizing to assisted living could be the solution. Downsizing to a smaller living space often reduces stress levels because it means having fewer domestic responsibilities to handle.

Caregiving Needs

Perhaps you spend a lot of time with your senior loved one. Maybe you try to help them out as much as possible by driving them to doctor appointments or doing their grocery shopping. But sometimes, your loved one will have needs that you just can’t fulfill, even if they are relatively healthy. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time to talk to your loved one about their thoughts on assisted living, especially if you live far away.

Be compassionate when you broach the topic. Explain why you’re worried about your loved one’s well-being, and offer to tour facilities with them. Let them know that moving to assisted living does not mean giving up their independence; it just means they will finally get the support they need.

Discuss possible payment options as well. If your senior loved one owns their home, selling it could help finance their stay in assisted living. Bear in mind, however, that selling a home is a different process in the pandemic-age. You can also check in with your senior to see if they have life insurance and if it’s possible to sell the policy. If your senior loved one has lost track of their policy or isn’t sure they have one, you’ll need to investigate further. Start by searching for old mail, bills, or bank statements that may show payments to an insurer. If that isn’t successful, you can contact past employers or do an online search.

Moving to an assisted living facility is a major lifestyle change. However, there are many services that the staff at Grand Oaks of Jensen Beach can provide that individual caregivers simply cannot. If you’ve noticed any of the above changes, it’s a sign that continuing to live at home may be a risky choice for your loved one.

About the Author: After her mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Lydia Chan found herself struggling to balance the responsibilities of caregiving and her own life. She is the co-creator of Alzheimer’s Caregiver, a website that aims to provide tips and resources to help caregivers.

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