At Bridgeway Park Canton, we recognize that for every senior, there comes a time when choosing senior care becomes necessary. While it’s important to plan in advance and not wait until it becomes necessary, deciding when to start planning can be a bit cumbersome for families. However, there isn’t a specific age that indicates it’s time for a senior to move. Deciding when it’s the right time for a senior to consider senior living is a deeply personal, subjective decision that families must make carefully. To help families decide when it’s actually the right time to consider senior living, we’re here with an easy-to-follow guide, highlighting key indicators that show it’s time to make a move. We’ll also look at how planning ahead is beneficial rather than making last-minute decisions.
Key Indicators It Is Time to Move
While seniors generally move to senior living between the ages of 75 and 84, not every senior moves during this age range. Every senior has their own life circumstances and health conditions that determine their ability to live independently. Living at home may no longer be safe, and senior living should be preferred only in the following situations.
Declining Health & Safety
Aging not only increases the number of years lived but also heightens health concerns. Every year brings an increase in both mental and physical issues that eventually lead seniors to seek professional care. So if your loved one has started facing issues with their safety and security, like frequent falls, medication mismanagement, or worsening chronic conditions, know that a change is needed.
Neglected Daily Life
Another sign that senior living is needed is when a senior finds it difficult to manage daily living activities. This means regular tasks like cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, or personal hygiene become increasingly challenging for them. Choosing senior care would provide them with a maintenance-free lifestyle and the opportunity to enjoy a more active and fulfilling life.
Cognitive Or Emotional Changes
Aging not only causes physical changes but also affects cognitive and emotional health. So if you notice concerns like increased confusion, memory loss, profound mood swings, and social withdrawal, know that they need a change. Senior living communities help keep residents safe from risks such as wandering and provide them with a socially enriched lifestyle.
Caregiver Burnout
Caring for a loved one is no easy job. Despite their commitment to caring for the loved one, the family often reaches a point where balancing caregiving responsibilities with their own commitments becomes overwhelming. So if the family caregiver is experiencing chronic exhaustion, irritability, and health issues, know that professional care is needed.
Desire For Community
It’s common for seniors to feel a need for change, even when they’re fully healthy and fit. In their later years, they often seek an environment that offers them opportunities for social interaction and fosters a sense of community and togetherness. They seek companionship and opportunities for engagement that help them overcome loneliness and boredom, which they find at senior living.
Why Plan In Advance Before A Crisis?
Understandably, planning benefits everyone involved. The senior individual gets the opportunity to access professional care before it becomes necessary. The family finds peace of mind knowing their loved one is now receiving the necessary care and assistance. The senior living community provides residents with proactive care solutions to foster long-term wellness and better health outcomes. Here are the benefits of planning a senior living move before a crisis.
Empowerment And Choice
Proactive, timely planning enables seniors to participate in decisions that will shape their future care. It allows them to choose where they want to live and decide the kind of lifestyle they want for their later years. Moreover, including them in the care decision also protects their independence and ensures their wishes are respected.
Reduced Stress And Better Transition
Moving during a crisis, like in the case of a fall, medical diagnosis, or the death of a spouse, could be overwhelming for everyone in the family. Early planning removes the rush and promotes a calmer and more thoughtful transition.
Increased Options And Availability
Early planning gives the family and the concerned loved one more time to consider various options, which isn’t possible with last-minute planning. Plus, top-tier senior living communities often have waiting lists for which you have to reserve a spot early. Hence, planning allows you to get the time you need to find the right fit and secure a spot in a preferred community, rather than settling for what’s available.
Financial And Care Planning
Early planning gives you more time to explore financial options, such as long-term care insurance or selling a home, rather than making hasty, costly decisions.
Peace Of Mind For Families
Planning helps reduce the burden of making immediate decisions for adult children.
Bridgeway Park Canton – Senior Living That Supports Longevity
At Bridgeway Park Canton, we understand the crucial role that senior living plays in the lives of seniors who begin needing assistance due to aging issues. With individualized care plans, meaningful activities, socialization activities, and on-site amenities, it fosters a thriving aging experience for them.
However, planning the transition to senior living is a process that shouldn’t be rushed; it should begin before the need is even felt. By following the brief steps outlined above, a family can easily navigate the process and recognize that senior living is necessary for their loved one.
Planning the move would empower their loved one to get involved in care decisions and choose what’s best for them. Choosing the best senior living option has never been easier than it is now with Bridgeway Park Canton. We boast exceptional senior living apartments that feel like and function like a home. To get more information about our community and care plans, contact us at Bridgeway Park Canton.