If you’re reading this post, it’s probably one of the first times in your life that you’ve thought about senior living. Most of us don’t wake up one day and realize it’s time to find more support for Mom or Dad with everyday activities. It’s more gradual than that. Over time, we notice changes in routines and behaviors that prompt us to pull out our phones and search, “When is it time for assisted living?”
We’ve cared for thousands of seniors over the past twenty years at Paramount, so we’re familiar with the signs indicating you or a loved one may need additional support.
Here are some of the key signs you can look for that suggest it’s time your loved one may need our help:
Difficulty Managing Personal Care and Hygiene
As we get older, forgetfulness increases, making routine tasks like getting dressed, combing our hair, and brushing our teeth more difficult. If you think you’ve noticed a difference in your loved one's personal care, look out for these changes:
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Wearing the same clothes for multiple days
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Hanging damp clothes
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Unkempt hair and appearance
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Noticeable lack of oral care
If your loved one begins to exhibit these or other signs of avoiding basic hygiene, it might be time to find additional support.
Increases Falls or Accidents
Even the most fit and active adults can take a fall, but older adults are more prone to these risks. Often, when our loved ones fall, they don’t let anyone know. If you are growing concerned that your loved one is experiencing routine falls or may be becoming more vulnerable to fall risk, look out for bruising on their body.
Trouble Managing Medications
Managing medications is challenging for people of all ages. As we age, and as the volume of medications we need increases, we may struggle to keep up, posing a real danger for seniors.
Be on the lookout for:
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Unfilled prescription bottles
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Missed doses
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Worsening health conditions
Improper medication management poses a serious health risk. Personal care and assisted living communities help manage medication safely. If your loved one needs oversight with medication management because they’re making frequent errors, it may be time to explore additional support.
Increased Forgetfulness
Forgetfulness is normal as we age, but it can become problematic when it comes to activities like managing medications. You may notice your loved ones forget routine things like what they ate or who they communicated with.
Look for:
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Missed medications
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Difficulty completing routine daily household tasks
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Forgetting familiar faces and name
Change in mood, communication, and habits
We all have good days and bad days. But you may notice more prolonged changes in moods and habits, often impacting how frequently we talk to our loved ones. Daily phone calls may turn into weekly or monthly calls. You may start to notice emotional outbursts. All of these changes can be distressing for families, and they may indicate it’s time for more help.
Watch out for:
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Uncharacteristic irritability or anxiousness
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Changes in interest and hobbies
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Decreased frequency and changes to the content of communication