Parents Living Alone? Tips For A Needed Transition

allpics senior table Parents Living Alone? Tips For A Needed Transition

Parents Living Alone? Tips For A Needed Transition

One of the most difficult decisions a child has to make is whether their aging parents are able to care for themselves at home. Warning signs can move the process along, especially if their health is deteriorating. While it may difficult to broach the subject of a move, you’ll find assisted living communities to be quite different than in previous years.

Warning Signs

Your parents may have been a constant source of support and care throughout your life. It can be difficult to the see your roles in life reversing, and you may now have to step up to the plate and be their primary caregiver. There are telltale signs that your loved one is no longer able to live on their own.

These can include an unkempt and messy house, bills left unpaid, poor hygiene, unclean clothing and rapid loss of weight. Problems such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and other health concerns can cause them to fail to eat properly, misplace important items and forget to take their medication at the appropriate time.

Communicate

Having your individuality taken away from you can be heartbreaking, and you need to remain respectful throughout the process. This means keeping the lines of communication open and giving your loved ones a say in the matter. Their physician and any other health care professionals should also be apprised of any changes in their health and wellness.

You can broach the subject of assisted living carefully. Allow them to be included in picking out the right facility, especially when you make appointments to tour them. You can also choose something near family and friends, so you’re in close proximity for visits.

Personalize Their Space

When it comes time for them to move, you can make the transition easier by personalizing their own living space. Getting rid of their personal belongings can seem cold and heartless. Allow them to choose pieces that they would like to keep with them and offer to take care of any other valuables that they can’t have on hand. A cozy, warm and inviting environment can make the move smooth and comfortable for them.

Get Acclimated

While you don’t want to smother or hand-hold your loved ones after the move, you still want to make time for special visits. Allowing them time to get properly acclimated in the assisted living community gives them the opportunity to make new friends, enjoy classes and socialize.

Many of today’s facilities offer a host of activities to challenge the elderly both mentally and physically. To ensure that they’re being treated properly, you need to stay alert for signs of abuse. You can also make unexpected visits throughout the week to ensure that they’re receiving proper care and nutrition. You can also take inventory of the items in their room to help prevent theft.

It can be hard to find the right balance between safety and independent living. However, ensuring that your loved ones receive the proper care should be at the forefront of your mind. Allowing them to be a part of the transition through respect and open communication can make the process pleasant.

Veteran journalist Nicole Bailey-Covin understands well the plight of grown children taking on the role of parenting their parents, as she now assist her own aging parents. Devastating diseases like Dementia and stage of Alzheimer’s makes it so hard to watch other wise physically healthy parents struggle to take care of themselves. Nicole suggests families members support each other as they take the necessary steps to transition a loved one. Searching out online sites like http://www.chateauvestavia.com/birmingham-assisted-senior-living will give families guidance and information on what to look for in assisted living communities.

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Tags: assisted living, seniocitizensr

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Assisted Living: Who Decides When It’s Time To Go?

apics senior Assisted Living: Who Decides When Its Time To Go?

Assisted Living: Who Decides When It’s Time To Go?

Many people in the Baby Boomer generation are beginning to find they are dealing with the issues of aging parents that can no longer live on their own. Finding the right living arrangement and services for these elders requires research and understanding of the individual needs of the elder. Assisted living facilities can offer a number of advantages for these seniors, but the decision to make changes regarding living arrangements is still in their hands.

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a system of residential care that has been designed to allow seniors the maximum of personal freedom in their own separate living space while at the same time relieving them of some of the daily chores. These facilities generally provide three meals, laundry services, housekeeping and 24/7 supervision.

The facility may also offer exercise classes, speakers, field trips to cultural events and other enrichments that help to keep life interesting for seniors who live there. Though less expensive than nursing homes, assisted living facilities still have a considerable cost. Some facilities accept social security or Medicaid for the monthly payments.

A Sandy Springs, Georgia favorite among the Seniors, Dogwood Forest, provides a living environment that promotes health in a community setting with many amenities that allow Seniors to continue to live independent lives with the security of knowing help is present if and when they need it.

Signs Your Aging Parent May Need Help

As time goes on, you may find that your aging parent is having difficulty managing everyday tasks:
· Physical limitations like having trouble getting up or walking around easily.
· Forgetfulness or increasing mental confusion
· Problems managing housework
· Neglecting to eat regular meals
· Problems with late payment of bills, losing checkbooks or other financial issues
· Unopened mail
· Neglect of proper grooming, bathing and personal care
· Irregular taking of medications or forgetfulness about taking medications
· Weight loss
· Unexplained dents or scratches on the car
· Mood changes
· Lack of interest in hobbies or social activities.

These signs can mean that your aging parent is struggling to manage everyday tasks, and a full review of health and mental condition is necessary to determine if changing to a senior care facility is necessary.

Having “The Talk”

Aging parents often deny that they are having difficulty managing their daily lives. They may even become belligerent when you suggest considering a move to a senior care facility like assisted living. However, honesty is the best policy in these cases. The grown children should be open about their worries about the parents’ safety and care. As long as the parent has the mental capacity to make their own decisions, the decision to enter assisted living is his or hers to make. Generally, the acceptance of one’s diminished abilities is a gradual realization.

It may take some time before the parent is willing to admit he needs help. Involve the parent in research of facilities and reassure him that you will be in constant contact with him after the move. Emphasize the benefits of being in assisted living and how he will have more time for the hobbies he enjoys. Once the parent agrees to take the step into a new phase of life, you can be there to support their decision to make the transition easier.

Valerie Stout Cyrus is a freelance writer who frequently researches issues that affect the elderly. She found that Dogwood Forest provides one of the best Senior Living facilities in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

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Tags: assisted living, SENIOR CITIZEN