Making a decision to put yourself or your loved one into a retirement home isn’t always easy. For starters, how do you even know it’s the right time to do so? An accident or two might happen, but that usually isn’t enough for most people to pull the trigger and move to an assisted living facility.
Fortunately, there are quite a few signs that you can be on the lookout for that will help you make this decision with certainty, and we’re here to point them out for you. So, without further ado, let’s check out these eight ways to know it’s time to move into a retirement home.
1. It Is Just Too Hard
One of the easiest tell-tale signs to spot is also the hardest one to accept. Realizing that it has become just too hard to take care of your loved one is a clear indicator that a retirement home should be the next step.
Most people struggle with this because they feel it’s their responsibility to take care of their loved ones for as long as possible, but what most of them don’t seem to realize is, once it gets too hard, no one’s better for it. The care you’re providing them with is not enough, and the toll it’s taking on you is just too much to handle.
It is better not to wait for this to reach a critical point, so, as soon as you notice that it has become too hard – consider a retirement home.
2. Accidents Happen All Too Often
It is not uncommon for seniors to get into accidents. In fact, it’s only natural. Our mind and body give out when we get old, and if you choose to ignore this, accidents can turn into something a lot more serious.
Falls are the most common accidents that occur with senior citizens, and the thing is, old heads don’t like to talk about them, and the youngsters don’t always notice them – until it is too late. So, don’t risk it. If falls or other accidents begin to happen too often, just pull the plug and put your loved one in a retirement home. They’ll be better for it.
3. Medical Care Is No Longer Optional
As we’ve said, as we get older – our minds and bodies give out on us. And, that usually means we’re no longer able to take care of ourselves properly, which means we end up required ’round the clock medical care.
Now, it is true that some older folks are perfectly capable of taking their meds every day and on time, but in some cases, it is no longer about just taking your pills in the morning and in the afternoon. Sometimes, it is necessary for a medical professional to take care of you. And, when that time comes, a retirement home is an excellent place to be.
4. Basic Needs Become Too Hard
We all need to take care of ourselves. We need to eat, bathe, change our clothes, and so on. As time goes by, some people become unable to perform even these basic tasks, and when it comes to that – they need help.
If your loved one isn’t capable of bathing on their own, or if it is too hard for them to make decent meals for themselves – you can either take that upon yourself or look into a retirement home like www.siennaliving.ca. And, we really feel like the latter is a much better option.
5. Rapid Weight Loss (Or Gain)
If you notice some significant changes in your loved one’s body image – it might be time for you to consider putting them in a retirement facility. Rapid weight loss or weight gain, although the latter is not that common, can only mean one thing – they can no longer be bothered to prepare healthy meals. So, they either don’t eat at all, or they eat whatever they can get their hands on – just so they don’t have to spend time on it.
So, if you happen to notice these issues, consider a retirement home. If nothing else, at least you won’t have to worry about your loved one’s going hungry or eating junk.
6. Mood Changes And Swings
We all get moody as we get older – it’s just the way it is. We lose patience, and we become irritable. And, while there is not much you can do to change this, there is a good way to cope with all of this.
Most of the time, mood swings and changes come out of a lack of companionship. Older folks get lonely, and whether we like to believe it or not, as we get older, we begin to crave interaction. So, moving your loved one into a facility with a lot of folks their age might just be a solution to this problem.
7. Memory Loss
It is only natural that we become forgetful as we get older, but if memory loss starts to affect our lives in a significant way – something has to be done about it. It is one thing to forget a meaningless conversation from a week ago, but if you notice that your loved one tends to forget to take their meds, turn off the stove, or anything of sorts, it would be wise to move them to a retirement home. Forgetting things could lead to an array of problems, some of which could be even fatal. So, if you notice that this has become a problem that can no longer be ignored – you have to consider a retirement home.
8. Risky Behaviour
Another thing that happens to us as we get older is we become stubborn. Unfortunately, stubbornness leads to problems at this age. A good example of this would be if you just can’t seem to convince them that they’re no longer capable of driving a car or riding a bike, or something like that. So, if you realize that your loved one’s behaviour has been endangering them – you have to react.
Conclusion
While we understand that this might be a hard decision for you and possibly even a harder conversation to have with your loved one, if you notice one of these signs – it is a conversation that has to be had. It’s for everyone’s good. When selecting the perfect senior home, it’s essential to carefully consider various factors, including amenities, location, and suite pricing, to ensure it aligns with your comfort and needs.