Is your aging loved one struggling with daily activities? Are they experiencing any cognitive or physical changes that jeopardize their safety? Are they struggling with preparing nutritious meals and keeping up with household chores? Perhaps they are becoming more isolated from friends and family due to limited transportation options.
If you are noticing several of these signs, your loved one may benefit from moving to a senior living community where help is available when they need it. You might be wondering how to determine if senior living is a good option. There are common signs to watch for that can make this decision easier.
Common Signs It’s Time to Consider Senior Living
1. Lack of transportation options
If your loved one is no longer driving, it can be difficult to run errands, get to appointments, and socialize with friends. Senior living communities typically offer transportation services for convenience and fun activities! An evening out among friends for dinner and a concert provides an opportunity for socialization and personal fulfillment.
2. Bathing, dressing, and grooming challenges
Is your loved one finding it challenging to bathe and dress on their own? They may require a helping hand to ensure these daily needs are met. Assisted living communities provide hands-on assistance with activities of daily living for residents who need it.
3. Frequent falls
If you’re noticing your loved one is falling more frequently, they may be experiencing a decline in health. They may also have obstacles in their home, like stairs or rugs, that can increase their risk of falling. Senior living communities normally have a dedicated team that can monitor falls and address safety concerns. They also usually provide a 24-hour emergency response program to ensure residents’ round-the-clock well-being.
4. Cognitive decline or related diagnosis
Older adults who regularly have trouble with short-term memory may be experiencing cognitive decline. Sometimes this can cause safety concerns with tasks like turning off the oven or leaving a faucet running overnight. Many senior living communities have memory care programs in place with specialized programming, secure living environments, and staff trained in dementia care.
5. Increased loneliness or isolation
It’s common to experience increased loneliness and isolation as we age, however, these persistent feelings can lead to declining mental health such as depression or anxiety disorders. Senior living can be a great option to reduce isolation because residents are surrounded by other older adults with similar life experiences. There are usually numerous opportunities to meet friends, socialize, and pursue activities that interest you.
6. Inaccessible home environment
Is your loved one required to navigate stairs to get to their bedroom or do their laundry? Are the doorways in their home too narrow to safely access with a walker? Sometimes a home can be modified so it’s more accessible for your loved one, but it can also be costly to do so. Senior living communities normally avoid using stairs in their residences and common areas — and instead design accessible bathrooms, doorways, cabinets, and more.
7. Inability to keep up with housekeeping and home maintenance
Making your bed, doing laundry, and tending to basic household chores can become harder as we age. Senior living communities frequently provide housekeeping and linen services and usually focus on a maintenance-free lifestyle. This means a dedicated maintenance team takes care of repairs both inside and outside your home.
8. Sedentary or inactive lifestyle
Is your loved one remaining sedentary or inactive most of the day? They may be worried about walking outside alone or may be afraid of falling. Many senior living communities have on-campus fitness centers with equipment that is designed for older adults. Personal trainers are often available for residents who need help getting started. Exercise classes are also popular in senior living.
9. Missed medications
As we age, your loved one may be finding that managing multiple medications can be overwhelming. If your loved one is skipping doses or accidentally taking too many medications, it may be time to consider senior living options. Most assisted living communities provide medication management by a nursing team. They can also usually contact a resident’s pharmacy or physician if there are questions or concerns about a certain prescription.
10. Poor eating habits
Is your loved one missing meals or eating unhealthy foods most of the time? Are they finding it more challenging to prepare meals or keep the house stocked with nutritious food? Assisted living communities normally provide three meals each day for residents. Kitchenettes are common in resident apartments to keep snacks and drinks, but cooking is typically no longer necessary. Chef-prepared meals and a full menu of options can be expected in many senior living communities today.
Life at Sonrisa Assisted Living
If you’re looking at options for senior living, we invite your family to visit Sonrisa Assisted Living, designed to support your loved ones to live their highest quality of life.
We offer studio and one-bedroom private apartments for our assisted living residents as well as private or shared memory care suites for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Our memory care residents are cared for by our compassionate and specially trained team — who meet them wherever they are in their journey with patience and kindness. The residents also have access to customized activities, programs, and an elevated secured courtyard.
Our amenities and services encourage our residents in assisted living to engage with others, remain as independent as possible, and be reassured that help is available whenever needed.
In addition to our personalized services, we offer:
- Assisted Living dining room, bistro and two sitting lounge/living room areas
- Memory Care living and dining room
- Elegantly designed common areas
- Fitness and wellness center with physical and occupational therapy room
- A commercial kitchen
- Barber and beauty salon in both assisted living and memory care areas
- 24-hour on-duty care staff
- Secured community
- Art room
- Multipurpose room
- Large state‐of‐the‐art theater
- A large secured Assisted Living and separate Memory Care courtyard with walking paths
- On‐grade parking for immediate use of visitors and staff
- Dog Park
If your family is considering retirement living, we hope you will visit Sonrisa Assisted Living. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a tour.
You may also download our complimentary brochure to get additional details about Sonrisa Assisted Living.
