Our parents and senior loved ones were typically our biggest supporters while we were young, and the people who always took care of us. When the roles are reversed and we become responsible for their care and quality of life, it can be extremely emotional and overwhelming. 

When a senior adult can no longer live on their own safely, someone needs to step in as an advocate for their needs. It can be difficult for you and your senior loved ones to acknowledge that it’s no longer viable to live independently and need to consider your options for assisted living.

We’ve compiled a helpful list to start you on the right track, and to help answer some of the most important questions that may come up when searching for the best assisted living care for your loved one.

Signs It Might Be Time to Consider Assisted Living

There are some telltale signs to look for that will help you recognize when it’s the right time for assisted living. A few of the most common signs to be looking for:

Safety Concerns

Consider the type of home your senior loved one resides in. Stairs, high cabinets, and slippery flooring can be serious hazards as people age. To determine exactly how safe your parent or senior loved one is in their current home, monitor them as they go about their daily tasks. You’ll quickly see if activities of daily living are a hazard in the home.

Escalating Care Needs

As we age, our ability to do the things we once did easily will become more difficult. If you find your loved one unable to take care of themselves properly — i.e. they have trouble showering, cooking, cleaning, etc. — it’s time to start considering a move to assisted living.

Cognitive Changes

Have you noticed your loved one’s memory start to slip? Maybe they are retelling you the same stories or forgetting to let a pet outside. As this escalates, memory issues can become missed appointments and forgotten medications. Assisted living is a viable option for those seniors who need memory help. 

Declining Medical Conditions

The AARP reported that more than 70 million people over 50 have at least one chronic medical condition. Chronic medical conditions, such as Alsheimer’s, heart disease, or diabetes can be difficult for a senior to properly maintain or care for, especially if there are multiple medications and appointments to keep track of.

Senior Isolation

A major sign that it’s time to seek a new living situation for your loved one? Many seniors begin to isolate themselves, and they decrease how often they participate in things. You may notice they spend less time on hobbies, having fewer social interactions with family and friends, or just simply stop leaving the house at all. More than 11 million seniors live alone, according to the U.S. Census, and isolation can affect their overall health. Depression, addiction, and mortality are the top three issues that senior isolation results in.

If you’re noticing any of the signs above in your aging loved one, it might be time to look into your senior care options.

Know Which Type of Care is Right for Your Loved One

Depending on your loved one’s condition, there are different types of senior living options available. When deciding between helping your loved one move into a skilled care community or an assisted living community, please know that these are two very different types of care.

Skilled Care Community

A skilled care community is a skilled environment in which seniors typically go to when they are in need of a high-level, long-term care option. These patients typically need around-the-clock care. 

Assisted Living Communities

An assisted living community offers 24-hour care, but these residents don’t need as much daily care as skilled care patients need. There is a level of privacy to an assisted living community, making it more appealing to seniors transitioning from their own homes. There are also many more chances for seniors to engage in some of their favorite activities and to strengthen their ties within a community of people who are similar in age and outlook.

The Benefits of Assisted Living

Because of the level of independence provided by assisted living, it’s an appealing option for many seniors and their families. Especially if your loved one is simply in need of a safer space and a bit more support, assisted living can be a great option.

This type of senior living situation is ideal for seniors who can do many activities on their own, but perhaps just not quite as well, or as comfortably or safely as they used to. Residents in an assisted living community have their own private living spaces and can come and go freely. Meals are provided, and some communities even have options for small meals to be cooked in the resident’s rooms.

Our Community at Aviva

At Aviva, our assisted living community offers resort-style amenities like room service, chef-run restaurants, a hair salon, laundry services, scheduled outings with provided transportation, clubs, monthly activities and more!

We offer a continuum of care—allowing our residents to age in place without worrying about the need to move somewhere else if they have a change in their care needs. We also offer monthly rentals as opposed to the increasingly popular buy-in-model. This means more flexibility for your family.

The Aviva promise has and always will be to provide seniors the tools they need to experience lives beyond what they may think possible. If you are interested in scheduling a tour to see our community and learn more about what we have to offer, please fill out our online contact form and one of our senior living specialists will be in touch with you shortly!