How to Know When Parents are Ready for Assisted Living?

Answer 1

As aging parents enter the golden years circumstances begin to develop that make an assisted living situation increasingly attractive. No one wants to leave their home and independence but eventually many aging parents come to see that assisted living is an easier and safer way to live.

Assisted living involves varying levels of physical care being offered to the elderly on an as-needed basis. Most assisted living options include an apartment or condominium with an option of a meal or two a day in a common area. When the elderly are no longer comfortable or capable of providing the necessary upkeep on a residence it’s time to take a look at assisted living. When they can’t prepare their own meals assisted living becomes a necessity.

Poor health is often the catalyst that forces either the elderly or their families into making the hard decision about changing lifestyles. Frailty, severe Diabetes, heart conditions and a host of other medical problems make living without assistance dangerous and unsafe.

The need for human contact is sometimes a motivation for moving into a seniors living situation. Many residential communities are set up with a common eating area, apartment entrances in enclosed self-sufficient housing units, provide programs offering hobby activities and games and other planned social events and outings. Many elderly people thrive in these circumstances and enjoy a life that is full of other people.

Nutritional needs are much easier to meet when there are well-balanced meals offered at inexpensive prices. Elderly people often forgo healthy eating due to the high cost of good food or fail to eat altogether for periods of time. Assisted living communities provide varying levels of meal preparation in either common eating room or at home.

Older children often bring elderly parents into their own homes. Others add a room, convert the garage into an apartment or build a small cottage to facilitate the parents’ waning independence. All of the needed care is provided on an ongoing basis.

Assisted living becomes necessary as parents grow older and lose their independence. The need for an assisted living situation becomes evident as parents suffer health problems, loneliness and physical disability.