If you are wondering about a senior citizen in your life and whether he or she should move into a senior living facility, you might want to keep reading. While this can be a very difficult decision to make, it is one that you need to spend time thinking about. Take a few moments to read through the following signs that will help you understand if this would be the best decision for everyone.
Can't Remember Medications
This is not to say that your loved one has to be able to recite off all of his or her medications. Most young adults cannot easily do this, especially if they are taking a lot of them. However, if what they are forgetting is to take the medication, then there is trouble. This is especially true when the medication that is being missed is essential for keeping their health in good shape.
If you go to have the prescriptions refilled and notice that there is still some leftover medication, you need to start asking questions. Are they skipping doses out of fear of refilling their medication too quickly because of the cost? Are they unaware that they were unintentionally skipping the medication?
A slip up here or there is one thing. A pattern is a problem that needs to be considered when trying to decide if he or she should be relocated to a senior living facility where medication distribution is closely monitored.
There Have Been One Too Many Falls
In some situations, one fall is simply one too many, depending on the details of what happened. For example, if your elderly loved one is now unable to get in and out of the shower without a major risk to their physical health, then it is time to seek outside help. You might consider in home health care if the concern in only during shower time. However, if it appears that he or she is a risk for falling by simply walking through the house, it might be time to talk to a senior living facility.
The Home Environment Is Now Too Confusing
Does your loved one always remember who you are? Do they know where they are? Are they still familiar with their surroundings, such as where everything is in the house? If your answer is no, then you might want to make an immediate phone call to a local senior living facility. Also, if this is a sudden over-night change in behavior, you will also want to contact his or her regular care doctor in case this could be a sign of something more serious than simply the affects of aging.
As you can see, there are a few good signs to watch out for when you are trying to decide whether it is time to relocate a loved one to a senior care facility.
