{"id":7371,"date":"2020-01-10T10:43:58","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T18:43:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/?p=7371"},"modified":"2020-01-10T10:44:17","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T18:44:17","slug":"knowing-when-its-time-for-assisted-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/2020\/01\/10\/knowing-when-its-time-for-assisted-living\/","title":{"rendered":"KNOWING WHEN IT&#8217;S TIME FOR ASSISTED LIVING"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-family: helvetica\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-7374 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/01\/Assisted-Living-Image-300x243.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/01\/Assisted-Living-Image-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/01\/Assisted-Living-Image.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/h1>\n<h1><span style=\"font-family: helvetica\">Knowing When It\u2019s Time for Assisted Living<\/span><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica\">by <strong>Lydia Chan<\/strong> | Co-Creator, Alzehimer&#8217;s Caregiver<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">It seems like just a few short years ago that your parents were young and spry, but lately, you can tell that age is catching up to them. Is it nothing to worry about, or is it a sign that your parents need more help than they\u2019re getting at home? If you\u2019re wondering if now is the right time for assisted living, here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #00a1de;font-family: helvetica\">What Assisted Living Offers<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Many people associate assisted living with nursing homes, but these two long-term care options are very different. <span style=\"color: #92278f\">Nursing homes are designed for people who need around-the-clock care, including medical supervision. Assisted living, on the other hand, caters to seniors who need personalized support and a safe living environment, but don\u2019t require ongoing medical care.<\/span> In assisted living, seniors can expect private or shared apartments, lively common areas, and services such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Assistance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/what-are-adls-and-iadls-2510011\">daily living activities<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Emergency call systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Health and wellness programs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Social, recreational, and religious activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">While services and amenities are important, so is your loved ones\u2019 comfort. Include your parents in the selection process by touring facilities together and empowering them to make the final decision. To keep the process manageable, research online first to narrow the options to a few communities that fit your parents\u2019 <a href=\"http:\/\/ageright.org\/2015\/06\/09\/8-frequent-questions-paying-assisted-living\/\">budget<\/a> and care needs. With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aplaceformom.com\/assisted-living\/washington\/seattle\">55 facilities<\/a> in Seattle to consider, you all should easily be able to settle on the right assisted living community.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #00a1de;font-family: helvetica\">5 Signs It\u2019s Time for Assisted Living<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #92278f;font-family: helvetica\">Frequent injuries<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">An injury doesn\u2019t have to lead to hospitalization in order to be cause for concern. When a senior starts showing up with unexplained bumps and bruises, take notice. It may be a sign they\u2019re having difficulty getting around the house, in which case it\u2019s better to get them into assisted living before those bumps and bruises escalate to more serious injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #92278f;font-family: helvetica\">Medication mistakes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Failing to take medications as prescribed can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcatexas.com\/blog\/2018\/august\/common-medication-mistakes-older-adults-make\/\">dangerous<\/a> and lead to a significant decline in health among elderly patients. Poor cognition and memory both contribute to medication errors among older adults. If tools like pill organizers, timers, and medication <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.evisit.com\/top-apps-improve-medication-adherence\">apps<\/a> don\u2019t solve the problem, a senior may need to move to assisted living where their medication is supervised.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #92278f;font-family: helvetica\">Cognitive changes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Missing medication or double-dosing can be a sign of growing cognitive impairment. While seniors with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurology\/divisions\/memory-and-cognitive-disorders-1\/dementia-1\/normal-aging-mild-cognitive-impairment-and-dementia\/\">mild cognitive impairment<\/a> can continue to live independently, a senior who is struggling to accomplish everyday tasks like shopping for groceries, handling money, and dressing needs the help that assisted living provides.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #92278f;font-family: helvetica\">Unexplained weight loss<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica\">Unexplained weight loss is a sign that your senior loved one isn\u2019t getting the nutrition they need at home. Poor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearcareonline.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/the-importance-of-good-nutrition-for-seniors\/\">dietary habits<\/a> puts seniors at risk of malnutrition. It can also be a sign of <a href=\"https:\/\/betterhealthwhileaging.net\/qa-unintentional-weight-loss-in-aging\/\">other health problems<\/a> like depression, gastrointestinal disease, or cancer. Whether a senior\u2019s weight loss is due to illness or lack of motivation, assisted living offers the nutritional support they need.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #92278f;font-family: helvetica\">Poor hygiene<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">If your tidy parents are suddenly unkempt, it could be a sign of growing physical or mental health problems. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yourstoragefinder.com\/declutter-and-organize-your-home-seniors-special-needs\">cluttered home<\/a> also presents a safety risk. Seniors with mobility problems, vision loss, or who wake up to use the toilet during the night are at risk of tripping over loose cords, scatter rugs, and other clutter.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #00a1de;font-family: helvetica\">How to Broach the Assisted Living Conversation<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Odds are, your parents aren\u2019t looking forward to assisted living. So how can you convince them it\u2019s the right move? Rather than immediately suggesting assisted living, ask your parents about the challenges they\u2019re facing at home and discuss solutions. It\u2019s possible that assisted living isn\u2019t the only option. Some seniors manage with home care and a downsized home. However, if it\u2019s clear that assisted living is the best solution to your parents\u2019 problems, <a href=\"https:\/\/health.usnews.com\/best-assisted-living\/articles\/talking-to-an-aging-parent-about-assisted-living\">listen honestly<\/a> to their concerns and include them in the decision-making process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\"><span style=\"color: #92278f\">With luck, these measures will help your parents feel understood and in charge of their move.<\/span> If your parents are having trouble accepting the transition or you need advice on broaching the assisted living conversation, reach out to a counselor. Whether it\u2019s a one-on-one session or family counseling, a counselor can help your family communicate better and navigate this life change with confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica\">Image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawpixel.com\/image\/462664\/retired-indian-man\">Rawpixel<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #92278f\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: helvetica\">ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;font-size: 18px\">Lydia Chan understands the life of caregiving for another. After her mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s and she found herself struggling to balance the responsibilities of caregiving and her own life.She is the co-creator of <a href=\"https:\/\/alzheimerscaregiver.net\/\">Alzheimer\u2019s Caregiver<\/a>, a website that aims to provide tips and resources to help caregivers.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Knowing When It\u2019s Time for Assisted Living by Lydia Chan | Co-Creator, Alzehimer&#8217;s Caregiver It seems like just a few short years ago that your parents were young and&#8230;","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":7374,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[30,27,29],"class_list":["post-7371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-safety-blog","tag-caregivers","tag-patient-safety","tag-washington-healthcare"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7371"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7401,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7371\/revisions\/7401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.qualityhealth.org\/wpsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}