Benefits of Moving Elderly Parents into a Senior Living Facility

Making the decision to move your aging parents or other elderly relatives into an assisted living facility is never easy. There are many different factors that you will need to take into consideration, including the mental capabilities and physical health of your parents, their own wishes and preferences, your personal life circumstances, and the financial costs involved.

Often people are overwhelmed by feelings of guilt when they even think about taking this step. However, in many cases, it is absolutely the best option for both you and your elderly parents. This is particularly true if they require high levels of care or round the clock supervision that you are simply unable to provide by yourself.

It’s important to remember that choosing to move your loved one into assisted living does not mean that you have failed or let them down – and you’re certainly not abandoning them. Being in such a facility can give your parent a higher quality of life in their old age while ensuring that they receive all the care they require in a safe and secure living environment.

Ultimately the decision of when and if to move your elderly parents into an assisted living facility is a personal one for your family, but here are some of the benefits you can expect if you do so. Hopefully this will help you to rest assured that when it’s time to take this option, you’re making the best decision for everyone involved.

Specialist Medical Care

One of the main reasons people move their elderly parents into a quality senior living facility such as Belmont Village Senior Living is that they require specialist medical attention that cannot be properly provided at home. In the early stages of health conditions, it may be preferable to provide in-home care either yourself or with the help of a nurse. In later stages, however, this is often simply not feasible.

Senior living facilities are staffed by nurses and other specially trained professionals around the clock, every day of the year. This means you can feel confident that whatever specific health needs your elderly relative has, they will be met competently and completely. This could be anything from chronic conditions such as diabetes and arthritis to more debilitating diseases such as dementia. Plus, you know there will always be someone there to remind your mom or dad to take their medication.

This care also extends to factors such as nutrition. You can feel confident that your parent will be getting high quality and healthy meals with all the vitamins and minerals they need. Many senior living homes also have exercise facilities to help ensure that residents stay fit and active, which is extremely important for maintaining a high quality of life for longer.

Finally, you can rest easy that if something goes wrong – for example, your relative has a stroke or a fall – there will be a well-trained team on hand to respond immediately and provide whatever care and assistance may be required.

Safe Living Environment

Even if your mom or dad doesn’t have a condition that requires specialist medical care, they may still be experiencing some difficulties with mobility or similar issues. This can mean that living independently at home is becoming less safe for them. There are some steps you can take to make a property more suitable for elderly residents – for example installing grab rails in the bath and by the toilet, putting in a stairlift, or getting rid of clutter – but there comes a time when the risk of injury or a fall is too high. This is when a move to a senior living facility can be a great help.

With trained staff on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you can be confident that support will always be available for your parent as and when they need it. Plus, the entire facility will have been designed with its elderly residents in mind. They will have many of their day-to-day tasks taken care of for them – such as laundry, cooking, cleaning, and so on – and be housed in a comfortable environment.

A safe and secure environment may be particularly reassuring for those whose relative suffers from a more serious condition such as Alzheimer’s disease, which can sometimes cause people to go wandering off on their own. At an assisted living facility, you can be confident that someone will always be keeping an eye on your mom or dad and making sure they don’t get lost or end up in harm’s way. So there’s no more need to worry about issues such as doors being left unlocked.

Social Interaction

For many seniors, one of the biggest benefits of a senior living facility is the added opportunities it brings for social interaction. This is especially important if your elderly relative is currently living alone. Loneliness is actually one of the biggest health concerns for older people, with studies showing that social isolation can increase their risk of a number of serious health concerns, including stroke, depression, anxiety, and heart attacks. In fact, some say it can be more damaging than even being overweight or leading a sedentary lifestyle.

In a senior living facility, your mom or dad will have plenty of chances to socialize with other people of their own age group if they want. Many run a wide range of activities such as group exercise classes, art and craft workshops, outings to nearby places of interest, and different social events throughout the year. This can be a huge help in maintaining the health and wellbeing of residents, boosting their mood, and ensuring a higher quality of life.

These sorts of activities can also be extremely beneficial in keeping your parent’s mind active and reducing the impact of cognitive decline. It can also help to introduce a sense of purpose, and make sure that their day to day life is fun and enjoyable for them, whatever their personal interests and hobbies are – perhaps they’ll even pick up a new one!

Thanks to Zoe