Taking care of an aging loved one can be physically and emotionally draining. This is particularly true as their physical and mental health and overall well-being decline. When this happens, the older family member will become increasingly dependent on others. With the holidays approaching and families visiting each other, you may notice the need for extra care. Since at-home care may not be enough, consider having your loved one dwell within a senior living community. But how will you know your loved one needs more help?
Here are some signs to look out for.
Chronic or Worsening Health Problems
The prevalence of most chronic conditions increases with age. If your aging parent falls ill more often or takes longer to recover from an injury or illness, this could be a sign of a weakening immune system. Such an individual may need 24-hour care soon.
Unlike at home, our senior living communities are adequately staffed and equipped. This goes a long way in ensuring the health conditions are regularly monitored and well-controlled. Full-time care can help to improve your loved one's health and quality of life.
Difficulty Managing Medications
As your loved one ages, they may have cognitive impairment. This can make it difficult for seniors to keep up with their medications. Failure to use medications correctly and safely can result in worsening of disease, increased healthcare costs, or even death.
Our communities provide ongoing care through various stages. If your aging parent or loved one has become forgetful, Integrated Lifestyles will see to it that your loved one takes the right dosages of the medicines at the right time. With use of technology to streamline medication administration, we’re effectively ensuring improved health outcomes.
Recent Falls
Accidents happen more frequently as someone ages. Poor eyesight, poor hearing, as well as physical conditions, make your aging loved one more prone to falling. In addition, a home may not have the safety features seniors need to age in place. If your parent falls, it may take long before someone arrives to help. Usually, a fall is what prompts a faster decline. If you risk safety for too long and then a fall happens, the outcome is generally worse and recovery much harder. If your loved one prefers to stay within the comfort of their own home, reference our fall-prevention checklist to make sure they are living in as safe of conditions as possible.
- most long-term care options, our communities come equipped with various safety features and modifications such as grab bars, emergency response systems, and other safety features to ensure your loved one is safe.
Poor Eating Habits
Good nutrition is important for good physical and mental health. When your aging loved one has trouble preparing meals, their eating habits will suffer. This may result in weight loss and a weak immune system.
Within our senior living community, our residents are provided with healthy, balanced meals options. Many of our communities provide enhanced dining programs to allow our residents control and flexibility over their dining services.
Hygiene Problems
When living by themselves at home, an aging loved one may be unable to take care of themselves like they used to. As physical and mental health decline, it may become increasingly difficult to complete personal care tasks. This will result in poor hygiene.
Drastic changes in the appearance of your aging loved one may also be a sign that they cannot care for their basic needs.
Mood Swings and Aggressive Behavior
As an individual progressively loses their memory, they may exhibit aggressive behavior. Dementia, confusion, and the inability to clearly communicate their needs can contribute to aggression. Without proper interventions, the aging loved one can become a danger to themselves and the people around them.
Compared to at-home care, there are extra eyes on the residents within our communities. With a higher staff-to-resident ratio within some communities, those needing extra attention are well taken care of.
Isolation and Sadness
Companionship plays an important role in ensuring good emotional health. However, as a person ages, they may become lonely due to a lack of companionship. Many of your loved one's friends may have passed on and their social activities may decrease. If the individual goes for days without leaving the house, it may be time to talk about changing their living situation.
Our communities offer certain advantages that your loved one will not enjoy with in-home care. Your aging parents will have a friendly and supportive environment that encourages socialization. There will be mature and like-minded adults with whom your loved one can interact regularly. Lastly, residents can engage in their hobbies and other activities they enjoy, including outings and classes.
Struggling with Daily Activities
Although your aging parent may enjoy living at home, there may come a time when they are unable to handle various daily life activities. You will notice that the senior cannot keep up with simple tasks such as housework, shopping, cooking, and house and yard upkeep.
Most well-maintained long-term care facilities ensure residents enjoy a clean indoor and outdoor environment. This will not only provide your aging loved one with a more sanitary living space but also eliminate the stress of having to handle such tasks by themselves.
Caregiver Burnout
The challenges of taking care of elderly people increase when they are unable to handle various tasks on their own. This can contribute to physical and emotional strain, leading to caregiver burnout. In such cases, at-home care may become untenable.
Compared to full-time care at home, residents in our communities enjoy numerous benefits. Qualified, experienced, and compassionate care teams develop tailored care plans and robust programming for socialization, giving our residents with every opportunity to receive the care they need at a level of independence that works for them.
Wandering Off
Over time, living at home may become dangerous for your aging loved one. If the elderly person wanders off, gets disoriented, or is lost outside of the home, this is a clear indication that they need extra care.
If your aging family member has dementia, our memory care services can help to ease anxiety and confusion and make their life easier while acknowledging day-to-day accomplishments and making each resident feel successful.
How Integrated Lifestyles Can Help
At Integrated Lifestyles, we treat every resident we serve as family. Our customizable lifestyles and care plans create a remarkable experience, allowing residents to relax and enjoy their retirement years. Contact us today to learn more.