When Should Elderly People Move to Assisted Living?

Elderly people should move into assisted living when staying home isn’t safe anymore. Moving into an assisted living community is no easy task, and the decision can be a difficult one for seniors and their families. Sometimes, however, you notice that your loved ones are struggling with everyday tasks, neglecting their financial responsibilities or living in isolation. In these cases, assisted living can be an excellent choice.

If your loved ones are struggling with managing their health, it may be time for assisted living. As seniors get older, their chance of developing a chronic medical condition goes up drastically. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), nearly 95% of adults over 60 have at least one chronic condition, and 80% have two or more.

This puts seniors at severe risk when they’re residing in their own homes, especially for more debilitating conditions such as heart disease. Then comes the task of keeping up with appointments, medications and treatment, which can be too much for seniors to handle as they age. Once they’re diagnosed with a chronic condition, it’s simply safer for seniors to reside in an assisted living community where they’ll have access to around-the-clock support.

Nearly 25% of seniors aged 65 and over are considered socially isolated, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). Social isolation is linked to an array of health issues, and seniors, like the rest of us, benefit from positive social interactions. Without socialization, older adults face a plethora of health risks.

Seniors who are socially isolated have a 50% risk of dementia compared to those who are socialized. In addition, poor social relationships are associated with a 29% increased risk of heart attack and a 32% increased risk of stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Residing in an assisted living community expands seniors’ support networks and gives them ample opportunities to socialize and make new friends while reducing these health risks.

If your parent is forgetting to pay bills or struggling with household maintenance, they won’t have to worry about these types of tasks in assisted living. As seniors age, many lose their ability to keep up with finances and duties around the house. Neglecting their financial responsibilities is a key reason to make the transition to assisted living. In these communities, tasks such as housekeeping, laundry and maintenance are all covered by staff, and seniors don’t have to worry about any past-due bills.