It can be difficult to start thinking about the future for your aging parent. While they may have spent decades caring for you, it can be tough to admit that you may have to make moves to take care of them. Below are just a few of the signs that it might be time to start looking at assisted living communities to ensure your parent’s quality of life.
Memory Loss
Memory loss is a problem that goes beyond just forgetting the day of the week. When your parent becomes more forgetful, he or she might be in danger because of factors ranging from basic safety (locking doors, etc.) to health-related issues (forgetting medication). If you know that your parent is the midst of some kind of cognitive decline, it is vital that you reach out so you can begin planning for a much safer future.
Mobility Problems
Mobility issues can cause a major dip in an individual’s quality of life. If you notice that it’s getting tough for your parent to get around on his or her own, you may be looking at a situation where things have deteriorated far more than you know. When you know that your parent has a hard time doing things as simple as getting out of bed, it’s time to start looking for help. If they aren’t enjoying the same activities they used to, like maybe putting together puzzles or walking around the garden, this could be a sign of moderate to severe mobility problems.
Health Issues
There are some health problems that your aging parent may not be able to take care of on his or her own. Whether these problems require supervision, special medical techniques or just require frequent visits to the doctor, it may be necessary for your parent to have someone around who can help. Things like diabetes might be harder to manage as you grow older as treatment require consistent care.
Self-Care Problems
Finally, it may be time to think about assisted living if your parent is starting to have trouble with the activities of daily living such as vacuuming. While this can be related to memory loss and/or mobility problems, it can also come about due to psychological issues or even just a lack of motivation. If you notice that your parent is leaning on others more often for those activities that they once did on their own, it may be time to start talking about a move.
If you notice that something’s impeding your parent’s quality of life, you need to be realistic about how to make up for that deficit. In many cases, finding a place for your parent to live that will help with those problems is the best way to keep your parent both safe and engaged with the world. Though this may be a difficult conversation, it’s one that you owe it to both yourself and your parent to have.