When Is It Time to Move into an Assisted Living Community?
If you care for a family member or another loved one that is struggling with memory problems, you know how frightening their turmoil can be. Thankfully, assisted living communities offer safety and memory care for aging adults.
You may wonder, at first, whether memory care is really necessary for your loved one, but if they show any of the following signs, it’s time to consider moving them into a senior living facility.
Your Loved One’s Hygiene and Self-Care Become Exhausting
If your loved one is no longer able to shower, brush their teeth, maintain their hair, or safely clean their home on their own, it’s time to consider memory care. These basic daily tasks are essential for living a high-quality life, but memory problems can easily get in the way, denoting a sign that your loved one needs extra help.
In assisted living and senior living facilities, your loved one won’t have to worry about maintaining their basic hygiene and cleanliness alone, as caregiving staff members help take care of it for them.
You Are Experiencing Caregiver Burnout
Whether you care for your loved one part-time or full-time, you know how strenuous it can become. Caregivers have some of the highest rates of burnout among any profession, and if you are an unpaid caregiver, that is especially true.
Some signs of caregiver burnout include:
Irritability
Anxiety
Depression
Anger directed at your loved one
Feeling overwhelmed and hopeless
Dreading caregiving tasks
Neglecting your own self-care and hygiene
Lack of social interaction with others
Feeling tired all the time
If you experience any amount of these symptoms of burnout, it is important to recognize that your caregiving can only stretch so far. You love your family member and want the best for them, of course, but if you can’t do it all anymore, there is no shame in seeking out memory care for the precious person in your life who needs it.
Your Loved One Ends Up in Unsafe Situations Often
If your loved one often roams around outside, gets lost, or encounters safety hazards in their home, these are also signs that it is time for a move into assisted living.
In senior living communities, residents are closely monitored for their safety and medical support. There is a much lower chance of your loved one accidentally leaving the stove on, for example; in fact, there are staff members who can check on your loved one routinely for that very reason.
Nothing is more important than your family member’s safety, and if they cannot safely care for themselves anymore, consider memory care.
Making the Move into Assisted Living
Moving into a senior living community can be an exciting and positive change in your loved one’s life. If you see concerning signs, the best thing you can do for your family member is to seek out senior living accommodations for them. The transition can be challenging, but assisted living is well worth it for the safety and happiness of your loved one.
