When to Consider?

Moving a loved one into residential care is never an easy decision. However, there are signs that you can look for in order to recognize when it’s time to consider assisted living and start the dialogue with your loved one.

Recent accidents or close calls

Have you been noticing more bruises and or injuries as a result of falls? Have you noticed frequency in driving accidents or fender benders?

A slow recovery

Is your loved one able to get the medical care they need when they are ill or do they wait too long before seeking care?

A chronic health condition that’s worsening

Do they have chronic health issues such as COPD, dementia, and congestive heart failure that are getting noticeably worse?

Increasing difficulty managing the activities of daily living (ADLs)

Do they exhibit difficulty managing daily activities independently — dressing, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, managing medications, etc.?

Isolation

Does your loved one continue to maintain a social life such as visit friends, join a club or has it become too much effort to leave the house? Have they maintained their friendships?

Hygiene and Cleanliness

Do you notice a change in appearance of your loved one? Do they still maintain their personal hygiene, bathe, get their hair cut? Has their weight significantly changed? Is their home tidy and clean or is it unusually cluttered and not clean?