Choosing an assisted living facility is never easy. What’s more challenging is knowing when your loved one requires an assisted living facility. As your loved one transitions through different stages of life, receiving the proper care and attention is the key to experiencing happiness and enjoying a fulfilled life. That’s what living at Parsons House is all about. Lives Enriched… Spirits Renewed! But, how do you know when your loved one requires assisted living?
Here are five signs that your loved one requires assisted living.
They Need Help With Activities of Daily Living
There are many activities of daily living that we need to perform. Several of these activities meet basic needs.
We need to maintain our hygiene and dress and feed ourselves. We have to use the bathroom and move from room to room without assistance.
Other activities are instrumental, requiring more complex skills. We have to get groceries and manage our transportation. We need to clean our home and communicate with others.
If your loved ones cannot perform basic activities, they are a danger to themselves. They could become sick from their lack of hygiene. They could suffer a fall and be unable to reach someone.
If your loved one cannot perform instrumental activities, they may be struggling with complex thinking. This could be a sign of other diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and may need immediate treatment.
An assisted living facility, like Parsons House, will maintain your loved one’s hygiene. They will manage medications and meals, making sure your loved one has the health care they deserve. They keep your loved one in contact with friends and family.
Parsons House also offers memory care, which provides programs to nurture memory. Your loved one can receive a private suite with 24-hour staffing and emergency response. They can participate in activities like art therapy that promotes memory retention.
They Cannot Keep up Their House
Housekeeping is difficult. We have to remove dust and clean up spills. We have to take out the trash and do the dishes.
Housekeeping is also essential to good health. Spoiled and expired food can produce harmful gases that injure the respiratory system. Expired food can attract mice and other pests, spreading diseases to the people inside.
Trash and other objects can impair mobility. If a person can’t clean their driveway or walkways, they may not be able to leave their house. In the event of an emergency, they may be trapped inside.
An assisted living facility can allow your loved one to maintain their house. Employees can clean, maintain, and monitor a home. They can allow field trips that let your loved one return to their home.
They can deliver mail to your loved one and make sure they pay their bills. If your loved one wants to take something valuable from their home, an employee can deliver the value to them.
They Are Having Mobility Problems
Many people move their loved one to an assisted living facility after a fall. But falls don’t happen suddenly.
People who suffer falls show problems with their mobility. They may have trouble remaining upright or walking. They may struggle to get up and down stairs.
Age-related eye diseases can make it hard to detect hazards. Medications can cause drowsiness or dizziness, which can lead to a fall.
If your loved one struggles to move around their home, an assisted living facility can help. Employees can remove dangerous hazards from their home. They can install handrailings that your loved one can use to navigate their stairs.
Facilities design their rooms for mobility in mind. Rooms feature a combined living and sleeping area, creating easy access. The bathroom is a few steps away, preventing your loved one from tripping over hazards.
Walls feature railings and additional supports that a person can grip. Facilities are handicap-accessible, featuring ramps and elevators for people who use wheelchairs.
They Show Signs of Mental Illness
Your loved one may not have dementia. But they may struggle with something else.
Your loved one may show signs of depression. They may struggle with constant sadness and/or anxiety. They may withdraw from their friends and family.
Some elderly people begin drinking heavily. They may become dependent on alcohol for good feelings.
Your loved one may struggle with an undiagnosed mental condition. Cases of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other conditions can go undiagnosed for years.
Assisted living facilities, like Parsons House, have team members and resources who specialize in eldercare.
They Need a Supportive Community
Loneliness is a very common problem among older people. An older person may feel separated from their old friends. They may struggle to relate to younger people, prompting them to withdraw from their community.
Parsons House works diligently to provide group activities that let your loved one make friends. They can play games, watch movies, and go on outings. Parsons House features a beautiful courtyard, allowing older people to get outdoors and experience nature.
What an Assisted Living Facility Can Offer
Thinking about an assisted living facility can bring up some hard questions. But a facility like Parsons House can help your loved one take care of their essential needs while building new friendships along the way
The Parsons House family can help your loved one perform the activities of daily living, including housekeeping. A facility can provide for someone with mobility problems or even mental illness. Your loved one can be a part of a community that loves and befriends them.
Get the services you and your loved one deserve. Parsons House is an award-winning facility that offers premium assisted living and memory care services for Omaha residents. Contact us today, or call us at 402-498-9554.