There is No Better Time Than Now−The Search for Quality of Care for Healthy Aging | Senior Living Link

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Donna Mae Scheib

There is No Better Time Than Now−The Search for Quality of Care for Healthy Aging

Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on October 16, 2017

There is No Better Time Than Now−The Search for Quality of Care for Healthy Aging

Did you know that almost 90% of seniors over the age of 65 would prefer to stay in their own home as long as they are able to do so? However, research shows that an increasing number of these seniors live alone−approximately 30%, over 11.5 million people! And half of these older adults (nearly 6 million) need assistance with long-term care to perform daily living activities.

Who are these adults who need assistance in daily living yet are living in their own homes? 

Often seniors who are low-income are more likely to live at home. They may have fewer relatives and friends to either assist with their care or visit on a routine basis. Most of these individuals are experiencing social isolation and loneliness. 25% of these individuals (approximately 1.20 million) are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia and they are receiving limited or no care at all for their condition. According to A. Steptoe, Professor of Psychology at the University College London, social isolation and loneliness are two key factors linked to a greater health decline for this senior population.

Let’s face it. Living alone is just unsafe for many individuals and especially those with cognitive impairment. They need help with food preparation and maintaining a healthy diet, bathing and dressing safely, managing medication, and monitoring their overall health. Even minor safety hazards or poor eyesight can contribute to unexpected falls and accidents, leading to a spiraling decline in their overall health and well-being.

You might be thinking: when is it no longer safe for a loved one to live at home?

Some key signs to look for include:

  • an inability to manage medicine (ordering the medicine, securing the medicine, dispensing the medicine, etc.)
  • poor eyesight or frail health
  • social isolation (lack of opportunity to engage with others)
  • extreme forgetfulness regarding important matters (appointments, mix-up of day/evening, unaware of days/holidays and special occasions)
  • inability to do daily chores around the house (cooking, cleaning, simple yardwork)
  • poor or inadequate nutrition (not eating 3 meals a day of nutritional food choices)
  • safety hazards (loose carpeting, poor lighting, steps, shower/bath not conducive to safe use)
  • financial matters (inability to pay bills on time, inability to understand and handle simple bank transactions for everyday living)

Moving to an assisted living community might be the necessary next step.

Although it is usually anticipated that the senior does not want to relinquish their home at least at the onset of discussion, the trade-off of gaining social activity along with proper health and medication oversight is well worth the “change” and effort it may take to get your loved one moved into a new living environment.   

Why is assisted living the top care option for seniors who can not live safely on their own?   

First off, most seniors eventually seem to know, although they may not readily admit to it, that there are drawbacks in living in their own home. After all, assisted living options provide care 24/7. Assisted living communities also provide social interaction of a larger group rather than a friend, an individual caregiver, or what a family member/family unit routinely can provide. The physical, mental, and emotional stimulation in addition to supervision of medication, nutrition, and overall care can be the right equation for extending their quality of life. Today, there are many assisted living options available for this group of people that do just that.

When seniors were asked the top reasons that assisted living is a good fit for them, what did they say?

Recent research has asked seniors this very question. After they moved into senior assisted living communities and got settled, the answers included everything from no more yard work and a freedom from home maintenance to lots of ongoing activity and improved family relationships, great meals and snacks, meeting new friends, and feeling both better and safer where they now live. There was less evidence of undue worry, stress, and anxiety.

Although it is often trite to say that “there is no better time than now,” in this case, it is true...

There really is no better time than now to learn more about care options so you can help make an appropriate decision for your loved one. Although senior communities are not for everyone, they do meet the need for a vast majority.  Planning ahead and involving the appropriate people in this important living decision will help ease the process in ultimately finding the best-continued care for your loved one.

Find Quality Care for Your Loved One

It's vital that your loved one has the best quality of care in order to age healthily and happily. Senior Living Link has the resources to help make any transition seamless, whether it's for independent living, assisted living, residential care, or life in a nursing home. Contact us today to learn more.