Changes in daily routines and abilities are part of the natural aging process. For many family members, this natural progression can make it hard to determine if their loved ones should remain in their homes or move to a senior independent living community. Senior independent living provides a lifestyle targeted to seniors who may not require full-time care but would benefit from a supportive, sociable, and maintenance-free setting.
Here are seven signs that family members can look for when questioning if senior independent living is the right next step.
Home Maintenance is Becoming Overwhelming: Homeownership and maintenance might become more difficult as seniors get older, and family members aren’t always able to keep up with it and their own homes at the same time. Mowing the grass, shoveling snow, or repairing broken appliances can be physically demanding. However, at independent senior living communities, all those things are managed by the community so that seniors and family members don’t have to worry.
Concerns for Personal Safety: As loved ones age, they are more likely to be at risk in their homes. Things like falling, having trouble negotiating stairs, or even managing their medications can all cause safety concerns. Independent living communities are designed with senior safety in mind, giving seniors and their loved ones peace of mind.
Sense of Isolation: Seniors who live alone frequently face loneliness, especially when friends and relatives are not close. Independent living provides a built-in community where they can socialize, make new friends, and participate in group activities. This social engagement can improve mental and emotional well-being, as well as reduce loneliness.
Difficulty Managing Household Chores: Cooking, cleaning, and laundry are all common tasks that get more difficult with age. In independent living, these tasks might be reduced depending on the community, allowing seniors to enjoy their day rather than worry about household chores.
Increasing Health Concerns: Even though independent senior living is intended for seniors who do not require ongoing medical care, many communities provide access to health services as necessary. They may even be close to medical centers and also provide transportation to appointments, making it easier to handle health concerns without seniors needing to do it on their own.
Loss of Interest in Cooking: Seniors may lose motivation or the ability to cook nutritious meals regularly. Independent living communities handle this for them by providing dining services with healthy, well-balanced meals.
Interest in More Leisure and Social Activities: As the years pass by, seniors may start focusing more on leisure and social activities as a way to spend their days. Independent senior living is the perfect place for this, and it provides them with peer interactions, group outings, classes, and more.
Recognizing these signs is important for loved ones trying to determine when seniors might need to transition out of their homes and into a senior living community. Of course, open communication with seniors is also required to ensure they understand the reasoning behind the transition and can ask any questions or share any concerns they might have.
Sources: https://health.usnews.com/senior-care/articles/when-its-time-to-move-to-a-senior-care-facility
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to a Senior Independent Living Residence in St. Peters MO, please contact the caring staff at Avalon Park today at (636) 622-8136.
Avalon Park provides independent living in Cottleville, Chesterfield, O’Fallon, St. Peters, Harvester, Weldon Spring, Saint Charles, Lake St. Louis, Dardenne Prairie, Wentzville, St. Charles County, and surrounding areas.
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