7 Warning Signs an Aging Loved One Needs Senior Living

One of the questions we most frequently receive from families of a senior loved one is how to know when it is time to encourage their family member to move to a senior living community. It is a rare senior that comes to the conclusion that it is time to move completely on their own. That is understandable. Few of us want to leave our comfortable, familiar home. When safety and security become an issue, however, it is time to begin the conversation.

What to Look for with an Aging Loved One

So what can you look for to decide if the time has arrived? Here is a list of warning signs we share with families when they ask us that question.

Do you notice the condition of their home beginning to change? Are they letting housekeeping and home repairs slide? Is trash or laundry piling up?

How are they doing with managing their personal care and hygiene? Have you noticed a change? Are they wearing dirty or rumpled clothing when they never would have before or wearing spring clothing in the winter? Is their hair messier than is typical for them?

Have they been in and out of the doctor’s office or emergency department for a variety of minor accidents and illnesses?

Do they seem to have difficulty walking and/or are they unsteady on their feet? Have they had any falls?

Are you able to tell how they are doing with managing their personal finances? Do you notice delinquency notices in their stack of bills or unopened mail stacked up on the counter?

Has your loved one lost or gained weight without trying? Are grocery shopping and meal preparation becoming too difficult for them to safely manage?

Are they managing their medications well? Have they been making mistakes with medications such as forgetting to take one while taking too much of another?

These are all warning signs that can indicate a senior loved one needs help. One of our experienced senior care advocates will be happy to assist if you are searching for senior living in Connecticut or New York. Our services are provided at no cost to families. Please call us at (203) 359-5777 to learn more.

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Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.