How to Know When It’s Time for Assisted Living
If you are an adult child of an elderly parent, it may be difficult to tell when it’s time to move your parents into assisted living. For many of us, we have always seen our parents as independent individuals who kept the family together, made all the tough decisions, and could handle anything. Age, health, and other factors beyond our control can greatly impact our parents’ ability to manage retirement and aging. It can be very unsettling to begin to notice things in your parents’ home fall by the wayside.
If you are concerned that your elderly parent may need assisted living care, look out for the following behaviors:
Behavioral Changes
Changes in behavior are often the first thing we notice about our parents when they age. Getting older can generally cause some changes in communication or personality, but drastic mood shifts may hint at a larger issue at hand that may worsen over time. If your parents are acting unlike themselves, they may be experiencing early symptoms of dementia, depression, anxiety, or another health care concern. If this is the case, you will most likely want to consider assisted living arrangements that offer personalized senior care with 24-hour professional staff.
Concerns about Eating Habits and Health
It may be difficult to know your parents’ eating habits and food shopping if you do not live close by or visit regularly. However, if you have begun to notice an absence of fresh foods in the fridge, expired food in the pantry, or a lack of available food in the home, this could be a clear indication that your loved one is struggling to feed themselves. The same can be said if you notice drastic weight gain or weight loss, perhaps they are eating out more than normal or eating less than recommended. Either way, it’s worth checking in with your parent to see if they have been struggling to prepare meals and go grocery shopping.
Find Personalized Assisted Living Options Near You
MorningStar Assisted Living Des Moines provides high-quality care and safety assurances for seniors, making it an excellent choice for families seeking a safe and secure senior living community. With a commitment to safety, experienced staff members, and state-of-the-art safety features, you can be confident that your loved one will receive the best care possible with us at MorningStar.
Contact us today to learn more about MorningStar’s Assisted Living retirement communities in Des Moines, Iowa. Our staff is happy to answer any questions you have, and our website also provides information on our company’s history and vision. Our holistic approach to senior care sets us apart from other senior assisted living facilities in Iowa. We encourage you to see our exceptional options for seniors seeking independent and assisted living in Des Moines.