The time will come for most of us when we’ll need to consider different senior care options for our loved ones…a nursing home, assisted living community, or in home care with or without help from outside agencies. Your choices may be numerous, but they’re often far from clear-cut. Considerations include cost of living, type of services required, physical health, mental condition, mobility concerns, available caregivers, transportation issues, current relationships with loved ones, and lifestyle choices…both yours and theirs.
Many adult children feel a familial obligation to keep their parents in their own homes or share their home, regardless of whether or not this is the best option for everyone involved. Along with yours and your parents’ desires, you must also weigh your parents’ level of independence against their ability to perform the tasks required when living alone. Sometimes, bringing in a private caregiver can provide some relief to the individual or family, but this may not be enough.
So when is additional help needed outside the home? Some telltale signs may include weight loss, neglect of grooming, skipping normal activities, forgetfulness and confusion. Although scary at first, moving to a new environment where needs are met by helpful, trained caregivers may actually provide relief to someone who is experiencing difficulty due to age related physical or cognitive decline. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the various senior services and housing options available to you, and ask lots of questions!
You should feel comfortable and secure with any environment in which your loved one resides. Your options may not be ideal, but with careful consideration, you can absolutely devise a positive, loving, living situation for everyone involved.
For more information on Senior Living Communities, please contact Kim Duffy or Mary Dembkowski at Summerhill Villa. Our phone number is 661-254-9933.