How to Know When to Move a Parent to Assisted Living

It is very likely as adult children of an aging parent that you have been asking these questions. Are Mom and/or Dad safe living at home? Would it be in their best interest to move to a senior living place? Helping your parents to decide to move to a retirement community, assisted living residence, or nursing home environment can be one of the most difficult and emotional decisions you will face. Be honest with yourself as you face this crossroad…. you have a responsibility to ensure that your parents are having their needs met in a safe and nurturing environment. Are you waiting for a crisis? Are you too busy with your own family and job? It’s easy for adult children to be in denial of a parent’s inability to manage on their own. A parent who may be struggling may not want to burden their children, nor do they want their children to be aware of their decline and changing needs for myriad reasons. Really … be honest as you ask yourself the following questions:

* Is Mom or Dad loosing weight? Are they eating nutritiously? Are they able to go to the market regularly for fresh food? Is the food in their refrigerator past expiration and spoiling?

* Is their clothing clean and in good shape? Do they change their outfits or wear the same one often?

* Are they living with safety in mind? Do they open their doors to strangers?

* Is mail being handled, or are their piles of disarray? Are bills being opened and paid?

* Is there a fear living alone? Are they reluctant to open up the door when there is a delivery?

* Is the residence clean and in good repair? If there is a yard, is it maintained?

* Has your parent had a fall in the house? Have you noticed bruises or are they covering them up from you so that you don’t get concerned?

* Are medications labeled and being taken as directed? Are they able to see well enough to handle their own medications?

* Is your parent keeping up with their medical/dental appointments and/or able to manage transportation to their appointments?

* Are reactions appropriate in case of an emergency? Is their judgment strong on knowing what to do if they had to react quickly to avoid danger?

* Are they isolated, no longer socializing and enjoying activities as they did in the past? Does your parent have many friends left in their area?

* Do you see the same personality or do they have melancholy days? Do they have signs of depression?

* If one parent is frail or in need of assistance… Is the other parent exhausted as a caregiver? Is the well parent now starting to suffer physically?

Regardless of where you are in the process, contact Accent on Seniors to help you, at no charge to you, to understand your options for senior living, when home may no longer be the most appropriate choice throughout California.

Copyright © 2008, Accent on Seniors Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical is not permitted.

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