Making the decision about placing your aging loved one in the care of an assisted living facility is a challenging one. After all, you want them to continue to be able to hold onto their independence while also staying safe. If you aren't sure as to whether or not assisted living is the right call at the moment, then you want to know some of the tell-tale signs that indicate they are probably ready for assisted living care:

  1. Difficulty Managing Daily Activities: Daily activities include things such as taking medications, getting dressed, going grocery shopping, and more. Even if your loved one is able to do this on their own, but they continue to forget, then you may consider assisted living. This is especially true when it comes to forgetting to take important medications. 
  2. Noticeable Weight Loss: If you notice considerable weight loss in your loved one, it can be a sign that they are struggling with depression over aging or they are dealing with some kind of illness that is preventing them from eating. On top of this, your loved one may even forget to eat meals and will skip many of them throughout the day. If this is the case, it is important to consider assisted living since the staff will ensure that all meals are prepped and eaten. If your loved one still isn't eating, they will receive the care they need right there in their own living environment. 
  3. Bad Body Odor: Many times, those who are aging begin to forget to shower or take their own personal hygiene into account. If you notice this in your loved one, they may be telling you that they are showering when really they are forgetting to do so on a regular basis. In this situation, you will find that assisted living is a great option since the staff ensures your loved one is showered daily, which helps to combat certain illnesses and will make your loved one feel much better. If your loved one needs assistance when taking a shower, this is offered as well. 
  4. Doesn't Often Leave the House: If, in the past, your loved one participated in a number of activities and kept a pretty active social life, then you know that once they begin to leave the house less often than usual, something is probably wrong. In an assisted living facility, your loved one will always be able to participate in activities with others living in the facility to help maintain an active social life right in their own living environment. 

By knowing some of the signs to look for, you can determine whether or not your loved one is truly ready to transition into a more caring environment that still allows them to live independently while still receiving any assistance they need with things that they have been forgetting to do on their own. If you have specific questions about how someone can benefit from assisted living, contact a center like Harbor Lights House Assisted Living Inc.

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