Spot the Signs: Is It Time for a Loved One to Move to Senior Living?

Aging can bring wisdom and contentment, but it also can bring physical and cognitive challenges that can make it difficult for a senior to continue to live on their own. If you’re growing concerned that your older loved one is not experiencing the quality of life they deserve, it might be time for senior living.

Is it time for senior living? A few possible things to watch for:

• Have they seemed more disoriented or confused lately? For example, if someone you care about seems to be having trouble remembering where they live, how to access transportation, or what day it is, it could be time for assisted living or memory care. Wandering is an especially concerning sign that it may be a good idea to look into a living situation where your loved one is not living on their own.

• Does your mom or dad experience lapses in memory? For example, forgetting to turn off the stove? Leaving water running in the bathroom?  Not remembering to take medications on time or double dosing? It is estimated that as many as 55% of senior individuals fail to comply with medication instructions.

Lapses like these are not only inconvenient, but they can also be downright dangerous. The kitchen can pose several threats to safety to someone experiencing mild cognitive issues, such as leaving the stove on, not remembering how to use an oven, accidental burns and more.

• Is communication becoming increasingly more difficult? Is it harder to have a conversation because your parent can’t find the right words, or has problems following a train of thought?

• Are there mobility issues? As a person ages, balance can become an issue. An occasional bump or bruise is one thing. But if you are finding signs that your mom or dad is stumbling around furniture, tripping over objects, frequently falling or having any other mobility issues, it could be time for senior living—especially if there are stairs in the home.

One out of four adults over the age of 65 report experiencing a fall in any given year. This can lead to broken bones, head injuries and other serious issues. Falls are not an inevitable part of getting older, however, and are often triggered by an underlying medical issue.

• Are they losing things? For example, keys to the car or house, a checkbook, the television remote, medication bottles, or other important items that seem to constantly be in the wrong place. Take a cell phone, for example. You don’t want Mom to not know where hers is if an emergency occurs.

• Has your parent expressed anxiety or fear about living alone at home? Sometimes it’s hard for an older adult to admit worries about being on their own. But as the sun goes down, fears can come up: what to do in an emergency, strangers at the door, wondering who will come to their aid. Increased anxiety could signal it’s time for senior living.

Cognitive decline also can make an older adult vulnerable to scams or other dangers. Neighborhoods change and familiar faces move away, and not having a trusted friend nearby can raise the risk of a bad outcome.

Senior living helps your loved one continue to live the life they love.

Carriage Crossing provides leading-edge Assisted Living and Memory Care services across several central Illinois locations. Our experienced team is committed to delivering a senior living experience that meets the unique needs and desires for seniors at every stage of living.

We do that by providing a community environment rich with exceptional dining services, life-enriching opportunities and 24-hour personal care assistance—all within a home-like, maintenance-free lifestyle.

When it’s time for senior living, we are here for you. We’d love to tell you more. Contact us to learn more and to schedule your tour.