Have you been thinking about moving to a supportive living environment, such as an assisted living community, but are unsure if it is the right choice for you? Here are some signs that you should consider a move.
7 Signs Assisted Living May Be Right For You
1. Recent accidents or close calls.
Falls, mishaps, medical scares, and car accidents are all signs that assisted living may be right for you, as are candles left burning, the stove or oven left on or accidentally taking the wrong dose of your medication.
Supportive living environments offer many safety precautions against the common hazards of living alone. In-house dining thwarts cooking disasters, monitoring and administration of medications prevent dangerous medication errors, and transportation services get you where you need to go – without the risk of driving.
2. Delayed recovery or decline of a chronic health condition.
How quick was your last recovery from an injury, common cold, flu, or other illness? Were you willing and able to seek medical care before a simple problem turned into a major complication?
Taking care of minor health problems can be so much more difficult as you age. A trip to the pharmacy may prove so challenging that you skip your yearly flu shot, for example. You might opt-out of a visit with your doctor to check out a nagging cold, only to develop bronchitis later.
COPD, dementia, diabetes, and congestive heart failure can become progressively difficult to manage on your own. In time, conditions and complications can make it hard to perform the activities of daily living, such as dressing, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, and managing medications.
Supportive living environments offer daily periodic checks and wellness packages that help you stay well and optimize recovery time. They also offer other assisted living services to help you recover from an illness, such as assistance with bathing or showering, dressing, meals, walking, or transferring from your bed to a chair.
3. Unintended weight loss.
Unintended weight loss is an undeniable sign that you could benefit from assisted living. Such an environment provides services that help you overcome physical challenges that make it difficult to shop for groceries or cook nutritious meals safely.
In a supportive living environment, you will get all the delicious and health-conscious food you need, without all of the hassles of shopping, cooking, and cleaning.
4. Feeling physically drained.
Feeling physically drained or depleted is a strong signal that life would be easier in an assisted living community. If you have trouble getting out of bed or rising from a chair, feel unsteady on your feet, or hang onto chairs and tables as you walk through the house, your decreased mobility and energy are putting you at risk for a fall.
Supportive living environments provide personalized assisted living services, such as help with bathing, aid with walking, and assistance transferring between your bed and a chair.
5. Cutting back on comforts, responsibilities, and basic necessities.
Taking care of responsibilities is time-consuming and mobility issues can make activities of daily living difficult and sometimes even painful. Washing dishes, cooking meals, and going to doctor appointments can all take significant time out of your day. To get everything done, you might start cutting corners. Simple comforts, such as clean clothing that fits well, hygiene, and properly prepared, nutritious food, are usually the first things to go.
Slowing down on personal hygiene because you do not have the time, energy, or will, or because you forget, is a sign that assisted living might be right for you. Leaving housework undone, allowing the yard to become wildly overgrown and trouble keeping up on bill payments and other responsibilities are also signs that it is time to move to a supportive living environment.
6. Social isolation and depression.
Social isolation is a clear sign that you could benefit from moving to assisted living. Mobility problems, the loss of a driver’s license or fear of driving after an accident, health concerns, and weather can lead to social isolation. Add on living far away from friends and relatives, and you’ll find social isolation worsens. Without social support, you may not be able to buy groceries, go to the doctor and perform other necessary tasks. You may even have to fend for yourself during a disaster. Social isolation also increases your risk for depression and other illnesses.
Living in a community surrounded by neighbors and friends, as well as the staff who can assist you with minor tasks or just say a quick hello during the day, can vastly improve your well-being. The opportunity to join in group activities and events down the hall, go on scheduled outings to restaurants or shopping, and retire to your own home when you do want some alone time make assisted living and other senior living communities a great way to fight off the feelings of isolation.
7. Cutting back on your favorite hobbies and pastimes.
Cutting back on hobbies and pastimes is a sign that you may benefit from assisted living. Being busy is a good thing, of course, but you might be so busy trying to take care of your responsibilities or chores that you have no time for the things you love, such as spending time with your family, engaging with friends, and participating in your favorite pursuit.
Other issues may cause you to cut back on your favorite activities. Mobility problems may prevent you from going to your favorite restaurant, park, or social club. Depression may cause you to lose interest in long-standing memberships or traditions.
Supportive living environments offer a variety of services in which dedicated professionals perform everyday tasks for you, leaving you more time to enjoy the company of friends or engage in a favorite hobby.
Benefits of Assisted Living in Texas
Supportive living environments, like an assisted living community, provide a number of benefits, including:
- Housekeeping, laundry, and linen services
- Anytime restaurant-style dining with accommodations for special diets
- Transportation to banks, shopping, doctor offices, and other important locations throughout the surrounding community
- Basic utilities, such as electricity, heat/air-conditioning, water, and trash
- Regular maintenance and repairs
- Professional, coordinated assistance during a disaster
If you are experiencing signs of limited mobility and decreased energy, social isolation, recent falls or accidents, unintended weight loss, or slow recovery from an illness or injury, assisted living at The Hampton at Meadows Place may be right for you. We offer housekeeping, linen, and laundry service, as well as delicious seasonal meals prepared by our chef. Schedule a trip to the surrounding community for shopping, banking, doctor visits, or religious services. No more worries about the utilities, managing multiple bill payments, or yard work.
Download our assisted living resource guide. It’s packed with information to help you choose the right community for your lifestyle.
The Hampton offers assisted living and memory care on a lush 14-acre campus in Meadows Place, Texas, near Sugar Land. Contact us today for more information about our senior living community.
