Many seniors are proudly independent and they become more fiercely so as they get older. They often fear that they’ll see their freedoms being eaten away and are more resistant to change. However, when they acknowledge that they’re struggling in some areas, it opens the door to positive change.
Here are 4 signs that it’s time for your loved one to move into an independent living facility.
It is No Longer Safe for Them to Drive
When they live a good distance from a city center or good shopping facilities and getting around on local buses is hard for them, then they need to drive. But when they’re unsafe behind the wheel due to poor vision, lack of attention to detail, or slowed reaction times, then it may be time to sell the car.
How can a loved one manage in this situation? What if they got injured in Clinton and are unable to move around? Perhaps they can order online, but it’s hard to make that switch if they’re not used to the internet already. It leaves them stuck.
Lack of Social Contact
When friends and family live a distance away and cannot come around as often as they once did, then a loved one may be alone for long stretches between visits. If friends have moved away or passed on, then they could have seen their circle of friends shrink over time too. When they aren’t getting out as much as they used to, there’s little opportunity to make new friends either. Moving to an independent living facility like New Perspective allows active seniors to reengage with the world, find new friends, and avoid feeling so isolated. It can make them feel renewed again.
Few Too Many Accidents
The number of little accidents and mishaps build up over time. Some are even hidden and not shared with others too, so it’s often more than you realize. Here are some examples:
Cooking – Dropped pans, slips on the floor, and burns from using the grill happen for older people. They lose strength in their arms and arthritis can make gripping a frying pan painful to do. This can lead to unexpected mishaps.
Falling Down the Stairs – In a home that has a set of stairs to get up to the bedroom, losing their footing can lead to a painful tumble. Breaking a rib or injuring a foot is not uncommon. These are injuries that require considerable time to heal making it painful to move around in the interim.
Forgetfulness – Not being as good with memory recall can lead to mistakes as well. Whether that’s forgetting to lock the front door, turn off the gas after cooking dinner, or mislaying the door keys, each carries its own risks.
Falling Way Behind on Backyard Upkeep
If you notice that the backyard has become unkempt with an overgrown lawn that hasn’t been mowed in months, leaves are still on the ground from the fall, and there are other signs of poor upkeep, you know they’re not getting out there.
While some of these issues can be resolved by hiring a gardener, it also highlights mobility issues that might have otherwise been hidden from view.
It’s not usually one major incident that indicates a loved one should be in an independent living facility. It’s more like a series of things that come to your attention to confirm that it’s time to bring it up.
