How Do I Know if Assisted Living Is Right for Me?
Moving from one home to another is always a big change, so it is no surprise that moving into assisted living makes an even bigger impact on your life. Not only are you changing your living quarters, but you are also moving into a new community and accepting care for certain health challenges. Before making the decision to move (or move your loved one) into assisted living, it is important to first make sure you qualify for assisted living.
While this article is no substitute for a medical exam, if you are experiencing any of the challenges below, it might be time to consider moving into assisted living.
Declining Health
Declining health is one of the main reasons people move into assisted living, specifically the health challenges that come with aging. While hospitals are there to help people with severe, short-term health challenges, assisted living is designed to help people live better and live longer with the long-term health challenges we all face as we get older. That could be anything from dementia to arthritis.
Difficulty Performing Daily Tasks
Assisted living is exactly what it sounds like: assistance with daily living. Any time an older American is having trouble completing daily tasks, whether it is cooking, cleaning, or even maintaining their own hygiene, it is time to consider assisted living. We can take care of all those tasks for them so they can continue living their best life for as long as possible.
Memory is Slipping
Assisted living is not the same as memory care, but many assisted living communities do offer memory care for residents who need it. If your loved one is in the early stages of dementia, but still able to do most things for themselves (or there is a history of dementia or Alzheimer’s in your family so you are worried about them developing symptoms later on), you might want to consider an assisted living community that offers memory care.
Your Doctor Has Conducted an Assessment
While assisted living does not include as much medical care as a nursing home, much less a hospital, it does offer some help with the challenges of aging. In most cases, you will need a healthcare professional to administer an assessment to determine if you are eligible for assisted living. The assessment should take into account things like mobility, memory, and fine motor skills. If you suspect your loved one might be in need of memory care, that would require a separate assessment to be conducted, either by their doctor or by a member of an assisted living community’s staff.
Deciding whether assisted living is right for you is just the first step. Choosing the right assisted living community is another matter entirely. If you have been thinking it might be time for assisted living, but you are not sure where to start, we would love to have a conversation with you to discuss your options.