Family members might feel afraid if they notice that their loved one can’t properly care for themselves anymore. Likewise, you might be concerned because you feel afraid to drive to and from medical appointments due to eyesight changes. If aging is making living at home difficult for you or a family member, you might want to know about the different types of senior living facilities.
Assisted living communities are ideal for older adults who require a little help with daily tasks but don’t need constant medical care. They make life a whole lot more convenient, with chores taken care of, cooks to prepare meals, plenty of friends close by and stress-free access to everything you need.
The Unique Charm of Our Assisted Living Community
Assisted living facilities come in all shapes and sizes, and Chesapeake Manor is an elegant assisted living community. Our people-centered approach has enabled us to foster a close-knit, family-like atmosphere in which everyone strives to take care of each other. Residents and their family members say the high level of personalization and attention to detail make it feel like a real home.
Signs It’s Time for Assisted Living
Here are the top 11 signs it may be time to consider moving into an assisted living facility.
1. Mental and Physical Health Issues
As people get older, poor health can be a burden. Emergency room visits could be a frequent occurrence due to falls or chronic health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes that require closer supervision. Mental health issues or cognitive decline may also occur. Retirement communities offer easy access to health professionals and have built-in safety features such as handrails and nonslip surfaces, and around-the-clock staff provide peace of mind.
2. Memory Challenges
If your loved one shows the early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, an assisted living facility with a memory care facility on its grounds could be perfect. Instead of uprooting your loved one when they have advanced memory loss, they can peacefully transition into the memory care unit and still be among the same friendly, familiar faces.
3. Safety and Mobility Concerns
It’s not just chronic health issues that become more common with age — there’s a natural decline in mobility that can make living alone dangerous. If your senior loved one has mobility issues, you might spend a disproportionate amount of time worrying about them and whether they’re safe. One of the biggest benefits of assisted senior living is the sense of relief family members can get from knowing their loved one is safe in case they become ill, fall down or have a medical scare.
4. Daily Living Struggles
Issues with mobility, fragility and aches and pains can make activities of daily living such as getting dressed, taking a shower, using the bathroom and putting groceries away difficult. These types of struggles are some of the biggest signs it might be time to move to assisted living.
5. Personal Hygiene and Nutrition
Your loved one may experience changes in their eating habits and lose weight or display signs of poor hygiene such as body odor. Poor eating habits and lack of self-care might seem alarming, but seniors may simply need help and be suffering as a result of not asking. In assisted living, help with daily tasks is available without judgment from friendly, trained caregivers.
6. Social Changes
One of the scariest realities of getting older is experiencing the loss of friendship, which happens for many reasons that are often beyond our control. In an assisted living community, social interaction is part of daily life — with family-style meals and fun activities bonding residents to each other and the staff.
7. Behavioral Changes
Some seniors might withdraw socially when they live alone, while others might get frantic or worry excessively. If your loved one’s behavior appears to be changing, they could probably benefit from the structure and comfort of living in a community designed to care for older people.
8. Transportation Issues
Eyesight trouble and mobility issues can make driving tricky for some seniors, which can make getting to and from essential appointments unnecessarily inconvenient. Assisted living often have access to transport to and from appointments so they don’t have to worry or rely on rides from others.
9. Financial Mismanagement
Huge changes have taken place in recent years, with the world moving from manual to digital records. This could make paying bills or managing finances difficult for some seniors. What’s more, the increase in financial scams thanks to the internet means some older adults could be at risk of being exploited. Assisted living is a safe place that will educate residents about the risks of scams and be on hand to answer questions at any time.
10. Medication Management Difficulties
Even minor memory loss can lead to missed medication doses, which could be critical for some seniors. Assisted living staff take care of medication at the same time each day, taking the pressure off your loved one and making sure they follow doctor’s orders.
11. Family Caregivers’ Burnout
The final sign it might be time to start thinking about moving into a care facility is caregiver stress. Most people would much rather enjoy their parent or grandparent’s company than spend time being their only caregiver, and assisted living makes it possible.
Embracing a Vibrant Lifestyle at Chesapeake Manor
Residents love reading, watching TV, walking the grounds, socializing and entertaining visitors, who are welcome to come 7 days a week. We tailor activity plans to each resident to make sure people have fun doing what they love, with enriching games and events that promote cognitive functioning and physical and mental well-being. Residents live independently, are free to make new friends and feel motivated to care for themselves thanks to our highly supportive and well-appointed environment.
The Holistic Approach to Long-Term Care at Chesapeake Manor
Living well doesn’t just mean having access to health care; it means having a lifestyle that supports your wellness. When you eat regular and nutritious meals and get plenty of exercise, health comes naturally, and it’s much easier to do those things while in the company of close friends.
Recognizing When It May Be Time for Assisted Living
When an older adult’s health declines and they struggle to care for themselves or there are recent falls, it might be time for assisted living. At Chesapeake Manor, our primary goal is for residents to have a healthy life, get proper nutrition and enjoy every day as much as possible. Schedule a tour today to visit our beautiful community for yourself.
