Does My Parent Need Assisted Living?

Your parent needs assisted living if they’re struggling with the activities of daily living, they need more social interaction and/or they desire a less stressful lifestyle. An assisted living community can help support your parent as they age while preserving as much of their independence as possible. These communities feature 24-hour staffing, engaging activities and varied amenities, so your parent will feel right at home. Explore the top reasons that mean it’s time to make the transition.

Isolation is a real risk among seniors who reside in their own homes, especially as their friends and loved ones move or pass away. If your parent is spending too much time alone at home, making the move to assisted living could provide a welcome boost of socialization and support.

Along with staff, your parent will have countless opportunities to connect with other residents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), loneliness could also negatively affect your parent’s physical health, putting them at a significantly higher risk for dementia and other long-term health issues. In assisted living, they’ll have the opportunity to socialize and form connections while participating in engaging activities, classes and restaurant-style meals.

If your parent is struggling with bathing, dressing, grooming or using the toilet, they could benefit greatly from residing in assisted living. These communities have dedicated staff members available around the clock to support seniors with their daily needs.

Medication management is another important task that becomes all too easy to forget as we grow older, but assisted living communities can give your parent (and yourself) peace of mind. According to research studies, 40% to 75% of seniors are not compliant with their medications. With assisted living, your parent will have 24-hour support with medications by highly trained caregivers and support staff.

As your parents’ age, they may be unable or unwilling to do routine tasks around the house. Keeping track of these can be too much for elderly loved ones, which is part of the reason assisted living is so beneficial. Staff is typically standing by 24 hours to help your loved one with the activities of daily living, but also to handle routine tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, laundry, cleaning the bathrooms and making the beds.

Home maintenance is another common category that becomes too much for older adults. When they reside in an assisted living facility, your parents no longer have to stress about clearing their sidewalks, shoveling snow, handling exterior repairs, electrical work or landscaping — all of which are handled by staff, helping create a stress-free lifestyle where your parent can focus on doing what they love most without all that extra work.