When we age, some of us tend to retain a strong desire to maintain the independence we had in our younger days. If your senior loved one or parent recently lost a spouse, it can be a question of trying to get a grasp on what life was like on their own.
In big life changes, some people have a better time adapting than others. In aging, we individually have a unique chance of being just as apt to taking care of ourselves as well as we always have. But naturally, some things in day to day life will get harder for us to achieve without help. For seniors, it could be things like hiring the neighbor kid to rake the leaves, or something like taking public transportation or carpooling to get around.
However, there comes a time when the tasks that were once easy to accomplish, are now a challenge. It’s especially a time to raise concern if your loved one’s safety is increasingly at risk.
Here are a few signs to take into consideration when independence is unsustainable, and you’re trying to decide if your loved one should begin considering independent living or assisted living:
A Spotless House is a Thing of the Past
It can be normal for the occasional busy schedule to result in a lull of keeping up on the overall tidiness of the home. What’s unusual is when your loved one, known for keeping their home in pristine condition, suddenly seems to slip into disarray or inattentiveness.
Trash that hasn’t been taken out for days, a fridge containing spoiled food, dirty laundry left unattended, dishes skyrocketing in height in the kitchen sink, and uncleanly bathrooms are all points of interest.
Driving Becomes Challenging, and Overall Unsafe
Your father who nagged you as a teenager for recklessly driving now may find themselves struggling with maintaining control or following the rules of the road. Another concern to recognize is if your loved one could be at risk for falling asleep at the wheel.
Pay attention to their attitude and overall performance when driving somewhere. If they present a reluctance or an obvious difficulty that wasn’t present before, this may be a warning sign.
Bills Pile Up Unexpectedly
Your mother was the one who always made sure you never forgot important dates. So why is she suddenly struggling to get her monthly bills paid on time?
It can be deemed as somewhat minor, as most older adults can be more forgetful. But when it becomes so regular that fees are escalating, and something due on the same day every month is hard to handle on their own, it may be the sign of a greater condition.
Hygiene is Faltering
A downturn in the maintenance of overall personal hygiene is a very evident source to back up the loss of independence. This is something you’ll notice the moment you see them. Whether they are depressed and feeling down and unmotivated to keep up on their appearance or unsafe to shower, it could also be another result of a deeper condition. If they aren’t even fully aware of how unkempt they’ve become, it could be associated with even memory loss.
They Are at a Growing Fall Risk
One fall should be enough to raise any concern over the safety of a loved one that lives alone. Several electronic devices are on the market to help someone who’s fallen get in contact with emergency services, but wouldn’t you rather have a close monitor that could check with your loved one at all hours of the day?
When Independence is Unsustainable – What to do
If you are at a crossroads with a senior loved one, there are several options for providing a solution to better suit their needs and continue their independence. Oftentimes, extended families will move relatives into their homes, or professional help is hired to provide daily care. But when these options are not optimal financially or preferably, senior living communities can provide further benefits that these would not offer.
At Kensington Park, we center ourselves on providing care for a loved one, as we would a family member. There are several neighborhoods for varying levels of care. We offer independent living for those who simply want to let go of the demands of owning a home, and live leisurely!
For more increased needs, assisted living and memory care assist those who are in need of a higher level. We promise to provide loving care so that not only your loved one can feel safe, but at home. Kensington Park provides enriching activities, socialization, and healthy living with expert staff, to provide exceptional senior living.
Our beautiful grounds are surrounded by lush gardens, and are always invited for visitors. The decision to move someone you love to a senior living community isn’t always easy, but if you notice that living on their own is not an option, we hope you reach out to us and see what makes Kensington Park unique.
Further Reading:
Memory loss is life changing for all involved. At Kensington Park, we provide a state-of-the-art memory care program, a higher staff-to-resident ratio than industry standards, and more advanced care services. Our promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
For additional resources regarding your loved one’s condition, please read on about our Memory Care, Alzheimer’s Care and Dementia Care.