5 Signs A Senior Shouldn’t Be Living Alone

Is it time for assisted care? Look for these signs.  

It’s never an easy decision to make. Trying to determine whether it’s time for your senior loved one to move to an assisted living residence (or receive full-time in-home care) can be frustrating and emotional. Knowing the signs that it’s time can help ease the decision. The following are five of those signs.

 

1. An unsafe home
   The risk of falling increases with age, whether down the stairs or in the shower. A home doesn’t need to be mechanically worn to be unsafe for a senior; even a new condo can have the dangers of loose rugs and lamp cords to trip over. Not to mention the stove can be a hazard for certain seniors when it comes to cooking meals, if they’re getting to an age where they’re forgetful. Ask yourself if your senior loved one seems safe in their home. If not, assisted living or in-home help could be necessary.

 

2. Loneliness
   Family caregivers have their own lives to lead, and as much as we’d like to visit often, we often can’t do so as much as we’d like. Does your loved one seem lonely? When elder care services are hired, the caregiver usually ends up becoming a companion for the senior. This can be an emotional connection that’s missing if the senior lives alone. Better still, a move to an assisted living facility offers the companionship of the other residents and staff, and allows the opportunity to take part in activities.

 

3. Neglected personal care
   Living alone is one thing, but being able to take care of a house, and oneself, is another. Maintenance can be a complicated issue for elderly individuals, so can personal care for some seniors. If it seems your senior loved one is having difficulty with their daily dressing, eating, and bathing routines (and general housekeeping), it’s a sign they may need assistance.

 

4. General forgetfulness
   As we age, the harder it becomes to keep track of appointments, to remember when it’s time to take prescription medications, and so on. Is your senior loved one forgetting important things? An elderly care provider – in home or in assisted living – would be available to care for your senior loved one and provide important reminders.

 

5. Early stages of Alzheimer’s
   ­More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. The disease affects memory, judgment, and perception. It creates havoc in the lives of those afflicted, as well as for family members. If it appears your senior loved one is showing signs of Alzheimer’s, be sure your loved one visits a physician for a diagnosis. There are many Alzheimer’s specialty services available.

 

If you’re presently seeking a senior apartment, independent-living, assisted-living, or other continuing-care community for yourself or a senior loved one, don’t forget to visit alternativesforseniors.com to assist your search. Alternatives for Seniors is a print and online directory that specifically caters to the housing and personal care concerns of senior citizens and their families. You can also call our Senior Specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747).