Signs Your Parent May be Ready for Senior Living
Learn to recognize the behaviors or observations that may indicate your parent is ready to think about a retirement community like Proctor Place.
It is time to consider senior living if your parent is:
- Losing weight or not eating much because he or she is not hungry.
Often this is a result of living alone. People tend to not want to cook for just themselves which results in the person eating less. The decrease in activity among seniors also results in a loss or reduction of appetite.
- Spending more time than usual sleeping, including at mealtime.
As activity decreases seniors can tire more easily. Depression from loneliness can also affect the number of hours a senior sleeps.
- Not spending time with friends or doing things that were once considered enjoyable.
If driving becomes more difficult, time with friends can decrease. Some seniors also remain in the neighborhood where they raised their children, even though friends have moved away as a result of changes in the safeness of the neighborhood. Seniors also begin to deal with the death of many of their friends and it is challenging to make new friends.
- Wearing the same clothes over and over.
This can also be caused by depression, declining eyesight or forgetfulness. As household chores like laundry become more difficult, wearing their favorite outfits over and over without washing them is not uncommon.
- Not keeping up with basic personal hygiene.
Like household chores, bathing can become more difficult. Using a bathtub may be preferred over taking a shower but getting in and out of a tub can be a challenge and make them feel unsafe.
- Depressed or talks often about the challenges and loneliness of living alone.
Many seniors spend numerous days and even weeks all alone with no visitors which can result in depression.
- Not able to keep up with basic housekeeping or yard work.
As the body ages household and outdoor chores become more difficult to manage. Many seniors begin to pay someone to clean their home and take care of yard work.
- Confused easily and cannot remember simple things. This can include not knowing if it is morning or evening, forgetting medication or missing appointments.
Confusion can also be caused from staying home days upon days with no visitors. This pattern can result in not knowing what day it is or what time of day it is.
- Not keeping appropriate food stocked in the refrigerator.
Leaving home to grocery shop can be a challenge. When the senior begins to cook less, they may also find they throw away so much food. What should they get and how much should they buy? Shopping becomes a frustrating experience.