Knowing when to move to an independent living or assisted facility is a personal decision that you have to make for yourself or a loved one. knowing how to initiate this conversation as early as possible is very key.
Aging is a natural phenomenon that is peculiar to all human beings. What differs is the rate at which we age and the kind of health challenges that we face as a result of old age setting in. at old age, a lot of things change, people are unable to do what they usually do again and sometimes require help to do these things, a lot of things that matter suddenly seem not to matter anymore.
Deciding on when to get into assisted living or move into an independent home is not always a straightforward decision to take. However, knowing when to move and what type of assistance is needed are two different things. How do you know if independent living or assisted living is what your loved one needs? This article will provide the answer to this question.
Comparing Independent Living and Assisted Living
The Independent Living community comprises adults who can still fend for themselves, they can take care of themselves without any assistance in bathing, dressing, and grooming. In this kind of facility or community, you have several social activities outlined to keep residents active and healthy. They go for social gatherings, group travel, and undergo fitness activities. This is to help them stay healthy mentally and physically.
However, assisted living on the other hand comprises adults who can’t go about their daily tasks on their own. They require assistance in bathing, toileting, dressing, and grooming among other things. The assisted facility is meant for seniors who are not sick but have chronic health conditions that require monitoring. People in this kind of facility may either have a shared apartment or a private apartment and the amenities available depend on the kind of care they need.
How much does Senior Living Costs?
The price for senior living varies depending on the type of care needed and services rendered. However, according to Genworth’s Cost of care Survey in 2021, the average cost yearly ranges from $54,000 which is an increase from the $28,800 that it was in 2004. Every month, this can cost up to $5,000.
When is it Time to Move to Assisted Living?
The decision on when to move to assisted living is a personal one. Usually, the thought of moving to assisted living starts when there is overwhelmingly dependence on others to carry out basic activities such as laundry, bathing, shopping, eating, and cooking among others.
In most cases, it is the family members or caregivers that usually see these glaring signs.
Although, some people may want to resist the idea of moving to an assisted living facility because of the time needed to adjust and probably the fact that they may not be together with their loved ones.
However, below are some signs that it is time to move;
- Social isolation and depression.
- Difficulty in managing monetary issues.
- Deteriorating medical conditions coupled with an increasing number of falls.
- Poor hygiene can worsen their health challenges.
Here are some of the major signs to know it is time to seek help. However, take your time to ensure that you are getting your loved ones the best assisted facility around. You don’t want to take them to a facility where their physical and mental health will further deteriorate.
Do your due diligence to get them the best facility that can enable them to enjoy the rest of their life.
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