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When Should You Move Into Assisted Living?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
You should move into assisted living when you can no longer live alone and take proper care of yourself or when you need more personal care and help with daily activities than your family or caregiver can provide.
Assisted living can give you reassurance and peace of mind in knowing that help is always on hand and you won’t be alone in an emergency. It may also be a good fit if you’re still relatively active and independent but would like someone else to take care of tasks such as cooking, cleaning and maintenance.
Signs that you may be ready for assisted living
You may be ready for assisted living if you’re finding it increasingly more difficult to complete daily activities without help. This includes struggles with any of the following:
- Managing your personal care and hygiene
- Remembering to take your medication at the appropriate times
- Cleaning and doing chores around the home
- Preparing and eating nutritious meals.
Other indicators that you may be ready for assisted living are reduced mobility and early signs of dementia. Of the two, the biggest concern is reduced mobility that may lead to an increased risk of falling — the number one cause of injury and injury-related deaths among seniors. If you’re at risk of falling, you may feel safer living in an assisted living facility where help is available 24/7 and special adaptations such as grab rails, handrails and non-slip flooring make it safer to move about.
When is assisted living not the answer?
Assisted living may not be the best option if you have been diagnosed with advanced dementia. Memory care facilities and memory care units within assisted living communities have specially trained staff who are certified in dementia care. They are better equipped to deal with dementia patients than general assisted living communities.
Assisted living is also not a good choice if you have complex, progressive or cognitive health needs that require around-the-clock monitoring and care. Skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes, have qualified medical staff who can perform a range of duties and procedures to meet specific medical needs that cannot be met in assisted living.