Aging is a natural part of life, and with it comes a lot of changes. This often includes special health and medical needs. As your mom and/or dad begin to age, there are a lot of decisions that will need to be made to ensure they are healthy and safe. One of those decisions is whether or not they should continue living in their own home or move to assisted living housing.

Assisted living provides seniors with long-term housing and care including personal services like medication management, meals, and transportation.

Signs That Assisted Living Is Needed

While this a tough subject to discuss with your parents, as they grow older, it is very necessary. You will need to take into consideration your parent’s current housing situation, health status, and medical needs.

If you are currently weighing the options of assisted living care for your parents, here are three major signs you should look out for.

1.) Decrease In Quality of Life

For some mature seniors, basic tasks that were once easy are now a bit harder to tackle. This includes laundry, cooking, cleaning, bathing and even dressing. Maybe you have noticed that your parent is having trouble getting up and down the stairs at their home or difficulty sitting and standing? When this happens, it is almost impossible for them to live without daily assistance.

2.) Memory Loss

If your loved ones are frequently forgetting things like taking their medication or paying utility bills, this is a major tell-tale sign that assisted living may be beneficial. For many elders, their memory is one of the first things that starts to fade. This can seem very minuscule, however, forgetfulness can actually affect the health of your parents more than you know. 

3.) Excessive and Unexplained Injuries

Another huge sign that assisted living may be needed for your parents is if they are frequently injured while living at home alone. Although there are medical alert devices out there, falling and breaking a bone can be extremely dangerous. It is also important to look out for unexplained bruises. Since no one likes to give up their independence, especially an aging adult, your parents may not mention all of their injuries, so be sure to make note of injuries and how they occurred.

If your parents or loved ones are experiencing any of these three major signs, don’t hesitate to have a candid conversation with them about their ability to live alone. Once you have an idea of what your loved one is having issues with, you will be able to make a more informed decision about the next steps like moving to an assisted living facility.

Assisted Living and Care in Houston

During your conversation with your parent, make sure you explain the benefits of assisted living. For many seniors, they feel as if assisted living means giving up their independence. Instead, it is the complete opposite. At Holly Hall Retirement Community, our residents are able to enjoy their independence in their private rooms and suites. They also have access to our community amenities like exclusive activities, transportation, and even a full-service salon.

For more information about Houston, Texas’ first retirement community, contact Holly Hall today for more information.