With your parent getting older, you may be worried about them living at home alone. You may feel that your loved one may need help with daily living activities, but you want to make sure before you speak to them about their situation or make any decisions. If so, look for the following signs that it may be time to talk to your parent about moving to an assisted living facility.
1. Personal Hygiene Is Lacking
Lately, when you visit your parent, you may have noticed a change in their overall appearance and personal upkeep. They may start wearing the same clothes every day, or their body odor is strong because they have not bathed in a while.
If your loved one has problems moving around or has become forgetful, their efforts to ensure good personal hygiene may be lacking. Since the immune system declines with age, poor hygiene could lead to illness or infection, especially if your parent has a chronic disease, such as diabetes. Your loved one may benefit from living in an environment that provides assistance with daily hygiene routines.
2. House Becomes Neglected
Along with a decline in their personal hygiene, your parent may also be neglecting common chores around the house. The same tiredness and difficulty moving around can contribute to your loved one feeling too fatigued and overwhelmed to do simple jobs like washing the dishes or throwing old food away.
If the house is riddled with old food containers and dirty dishes, these could put the house at risk for rodent or insect infestations. These types of infestations could then bring in diseases that could make your parent sick.
Along with infestations, clutter can also create a fall risk, especially if your parent has mobility issues. If they were to slip on an old box and fall, your loved one may break a hip or otherwise seriously injure themselves. And, since they live alone, they could remain without help for hours or days.
If you parent is no longer able to keep up with their housework, placement in an assisted living facility is an option. While they are living there, staff would be available to help out with some of the chores.
3. Meals Are Skipped Frequently
If your parent is not keeping up with their hygiene or home, there is a possibility that they may also skip meals on a regular basis. Whether your loved one does not eat because they are too tired to cook or they forget to eat, skipping meals means they are not getting enough nutrition to keep them healthy.
Not getting enough nutrition is detrimental to your parent's health. As a person ages, they do not heal or process nutrients as proficiently as they once did.
When your parent neglects to eat, the body does not have the fuel or backup nutrition to keep it going. Especially if your loved one has diabetes or another chronic condition, this lack of food intake could lead to rapid weight loss and an overall decline in health.
When you visit your parent, take note of how their clothes hang on them. If their clothes are getting baggy, there is a chance they are losing weight from not eating regularly. They may need to live in a facility that prepares and delivers the food to them so they receive the nourishment they need.
If you feel the time has come to speak with your parent about moving into an assisted living facility, you may have doubts about approaching the subject. Speak with Fountains Senior Care Inc. for guidance on speaking with your loved one, as well as making arrangements to have them come see the facility for themselves.
1. Personal Hygiene Is Lacking
Lately, when you visit your parent, you may have noticed a change in their overall appearance and personal upkeep. They may start wearing the same clothes every day, or their body odor is strong because they have not bathed in a while.
If your loved one has problems moving around or has become forgetful, their efforts to ensure good personal hygiene may be lacking. Since the immune system declines with age, poor hygiene could lead to illness or infection, especially if your parent has a chronic disease, such as diabetes. Your loved one may benefit from living in an environment that provides assistance with daily hygiene routines.
2. House Becomes Neglected
Along with a decline in their personal hygiene, your parent may also be neglecting common chores around the house. The same tiredness and difficulty moving around can contribute to your loved one feeling too fatigued and overwhelmed to do simple jobs like washing the dishes or throwing old food away.
If the house is riddled with old food containers and dirty dishes, these could put the house at risk for rodent or insect infestations. These types of infestations could then bring in diseases that could make your parent sick.
Along with infestations, clutter can also create a fall risk, especially if your parent has mobility issues. If they were to slip on an old box and fall, your loved one may break a hip or otherwise seriously injure themselves. And, since they live alone, they could remain without help for hours or days.
If you parent is no longer able to keep up with their housework, placement in an assisted living facility is an option. While they are living there, staff would be available to help out with some of the chores.
3. Meals Are Skipped Frequently
If your parent is not keeping up with their hygiene or home, there is a possibility that they may also skip meals on a regular basis. Whether your loved one does not eat because they are too tired to cook or they forget to eat, skipping meals means they are not getting enough nutrition to keep them healthy.
Not getting enough nutrition is detrimental to your parent's health. As a person ages, they do not heal or process nutrients as proficiently as they once did.
When your parent neglects to eat, the body does not have the fuel or backup nutrition to keep it going. Especially if your loved one has diabetes or another chronic condition, this lack of food intake could lead to rapid weight loss and an overall decline in health.
When you visit your parent, take note of how their clothes hang on them. If their clothes are getting baggy, there is a chance they are losing weight from not eating regularly. They may need to live in a facility that prepares and delivers the food to them so they receive the nourishment they need.
If you feel the time has come to speak with your parent about moving into an assisted living facility, you may have doubts about approaching the subject. Speak with Fountains Senior Care Inc. for guidance on speaking with your loved one, as well as making arrangements to have them come see the facility for themselves.
