Three Reasons Your Elderly Loved One May Require Assisted Living
Do you have an elderly loved one who lives alone? Are you worried about their health and wellbeing? Do you think it's time they move to an assisted living facility? Making this decision can be very difficult, especially if your loved one is determined to be independent for as long as possible. However, there are some good reasons your loved one may require assisted living:
They Have Mobility Issues
If your elderly loved one has a hard time maintaining their balance, they may be at risk for falling. When they fall, they could incur a serious injury that might require surgery. When an elderly person falls, 10% of the time it results in a serious injury.
A serious injury may leave them depending on a walker or even a wheelchair for their mobility. When your elderly loved ones begin to have these types of mobility issues, they may no longer be able to live independently at home.
They Have Poor Personal Hygiene
There are many reasons elderly people begin to have poor personal hygiene. For some, it may be due to the fact that they don't have the energy to shower or bathe on a regular basis. They might not also have the ability, energy, or desire to do things like wash their clothing and bedding.
Others might not look after themselves because they are struggling with depression. If you notice that your elderly loved one has poor personal hygiene, it may be an indication they can no longer look after themselves.
They Have Increasing Health Care Needs
It's a given that the older you get the more wear and tear your body sustains, which often leads to increasing health care needs. Besides just physical health being affected, seniors commonly struggle with mental health issues. If you notice your elderly loved one needs to go to the doctor more often for treatment, they need more prescription medications to help manage their symptoms, or they have cognitive impairment of any kind, it might be time to consider an assisted living facility.
There are some diagnoses that make assisted living facilities a near-necessity. Some of these diagnoses include:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Depression
- Chronic infections
While it is never an easy decision, if your elderly loved one has mobility issues, poor hygiene, or increased health care needs, it may be time for them to live in an assisted living facility. Contact facilities like The Hollinger Group for more information about the benefits of assisted living for your loved ones.