Taking care of an elderly loved one can be a joy in having time together and knowing that your loved one is happy and safe. There is satisfaction in helping those that once cared for us.
Yet, there may come a time when you can no longer provide the care they need. How can you know that it’s the right time to seek additional help? When is assisted living the right choice?
If you have been wondering if you should seek help, assisted living services for seniors could be a positive answer for both of you. Learn more about how to find the right type of care in Florida from our guide to assisted living.
Safety First
The highest priority of providing senior care is making sure that your loved one is safe. Repeated falling in the home is a great danger to senior health. According to the CDC, one out of five falls results in serious injury.
Increasing memory problems can become life-threatening. Is your senior loved one forgetting how to operate appliances safely? Confusion about when to take medicines can result in overdoses.
Always take signs that make you worried about safety seriously. Seek advice from a physician about safety risk behavior.
Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
As we age, it is natural to need some assistance with our daily routines. Common activities of daily living (ADL) are:
- Getting dressed
- Hygiene and bathing
- Getting up from furnishings
- Incontinence
- Self-feeding
Assisted living may be helpful if providing this help on a daily and often hourly basis is more than you can do. When you are no longer able to help your loved one fulfill all their daily needs, it’s time to seek assisted living.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
In addition to mobility concerns for living safely are also cognitive problems. Aging seniors can have difficulty managing their bills or other instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).
You may notice that your loved one hasn’t opened their mail or they have lost utilities due to nonpayment. These signs show that it’s the right time to turn to assisted living.
Assisted Living Benefits
Assisted living facilities offer many services that can be tailored to the specific needs of seniors. Some of the pros to assisted living are:
- Meal preparation
- Administering medications
- In house doctor visits
- Mobility assistance
- Activities based on personal interest
- 24-hour certified monitoring staff
A quality assisted living community knows how to balance supporting the dignity of independence with the right amount of assistance. Assisted living that benefits the health and safety of seniors work closely with doctors and families to create tailored services for each unique person.
Get Professional Advice for Assisted Living Services
Considering a transition from home to assisted living is emotional for both seniors and caregivers. There are so many questions about services offered and how to know if it is time for 24-hour help.
Heidi’s Haven offers small residential assisted living homes in Florida for both long and short-term residents. With over 20 years of providing loving care for seniors, your questions are answered with professional guidance and respect. Contact us for a consultation and consider a tour of our community.
