From the intense stressors involved in caring for a loved one, assisted living can offer much-needed relief. Additionally, it helps keep your loved one safe and healthier. Your loved one can experience more joy, deeper connections, and increased relationships when surrounded by people with similar interests and roughly the same age.
This isn’t meant to be demeaning or confining for your loved one. Rather, it is an alternative to inadequate support, family conflict, and loneliness.
What Will You Get in Assisted Living?
Typically, in an assisted living setting, required nursing care, help with daily activities, cooking, assistance with personal care, and more are offered.
Numerous assisted living programs are offered at Discovery Senior Living locations including transportation, maintenance and housekeeping, concierge service, health and wellness programs, scheduled activities and events, dining, and more.
How To Recognize Your Aging Parents Need Help
With daily living activities, your aging parent may need help if you notice any of the following:
- Unexplained damage or dents on their car
- Frequent bruising or injuries
- Difficulty getting out of bed or up out of a chair
- Poor personal hygiene
- Poor diet habits or weight loss
- They are missing crucial appointments
- Hobbies and activities they once enjoyed are of no interest
- Yard maintenance is unattended, and things in the house need repair
- They’re not managing their medication properly
- Forgetfulness
- Expired groceries are in the fridge, on the counter, in cupboards, etc.
- They are wearing tattered or disheveled clothing
- They have little to no energy or feel depressed
- Uncertainty and confusion when doing what should be familiar tasks
- The house is disorganized, dirty, or cluttered
- Extreme mood swings or changes in mood
- Damaged or broken appliances and furniture
- Late payment notices, calls from collections, and bounced checks
Getting Your Parents into Senior Living
If it’s time for your loved one to move into an assisted living community, when you speak to them about it, use non-threatening, positive words. Rather than calling it a “facility”, call it a community. Instead of referring to their new residence as a “room” or “unit”, refer to it as “condo-style living”. Rather than talking about personal care, highlight the social opportunities, amenities, and activities.
Researching and Evaluating Your Options
Deciding what kind of care your loved one needs is the first step to researching various assisted living communities. How much medical care and assistance will they need with daily activities? Do they require a memory care program due to dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc.? Do they have a pet they’d like to keep (some assisted living communities are pet friendly)?
With all of the amenities offered by many of today’s assisted living/retirement communities, the atmosphere is resort-like. Choose the amenities and programs that are most important to you and/or your loved one. You may also compare prices, locations, care team to resident ratio, and more. Never choose without first taking a tour of the community.
Why Choose The Trace?
At The Trace, every morning, your loved one will wake up inspired with a wealth of support, activities, and amenities at their doorstep. Our community is designed to address all the wants and needs of today’s retirees – all in one special place – all right on site. Whether your loved one takes advantage of our SHINE Memory Care program or assisted living, the maintenance of their health and wellness will be seen by specially trained team members.
Our residences are designed for comfort and convenience, with several floor plans to choose from. Recreational activities and restaurant-style dining are available in our amenity-rich clubhouse. To assist the needs of your loved one, 24-hour availability is offered by our team of dedicated service professionals.
To learn more about living in The Trace, contact us today or schedule a tour to see what our senior living community has to offer.