← Back to Blog

Signs They Need Assisted Living

assisted living resident is comforted by senior health care workers

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Look into Assisted Living Communities?

As adults, there are few responsibilities as difficult as deciding when it’s time to help our parents make the move to assisted living. This situation flips the script of our relationship with our parents, and it can also cause a great deal of guilt. But if we’re able to step back and look at the situation from a detached view, we’ll understand that assisted living facilities can offer our parents the level of support for activities of daily living that we cannot. 

There are many types and levels of care available for seniors including assisted living and home care, so here’s a breakdown of what exactly assisted living communities provide. 

What is Assisted Living?

The best assisted living communities offer personal assistance with 24/7 care. Unlike nursing homes, there’s still an expectation of independence. Residents can typically do many activities on their own but may not feel entirely comfortable or safe doing so. They have their own residences and can socialize freely. They simply require a bit of help with the basic activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing and grooming, medication management and personal maintenance. 

What is Home Care?

At Regency Oaks, in addition to assisted living, residents can also take advantage of Innovative Home Services™. We provide personalized support and compassionate, high-quality care from our professional team of trusted, reliable and highly trained team members right in their Regency Oaks residence. Not only will we match you with someone who fits your specific needs, but we’ll also choose someone who fits your unique personality to help maximize independence and enjoy a full life at home. 

Most of the services we offer are available seven days a week and can be quickly implemented within 24 hours for short- and long-term needs and include access to a nurse practitioner and trained/licensed on-site staff. Our Innovative Home Services program is accredited by Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP), which holds our program to the highest standards to ensure we provide excellent care. 

Evaluating Your Loved One’s Quality of Life

There is no magic switch or perfect time to think about assisted living options for a parent. Every one of us ages differently. Some of us may never need extra help earlier than others, but the truth is that most of us will at some point. Knowing this might make it easier to have these conversations with your loved one. 

Here are some questions to help you evaluate the situation and determine if it’s time to think about assisted living: 

  • Can your loved one get around safely?
  • Can your loved one go up and down the stairs of their home?
  • Do they have any unexplained bruises or minor injuries? These might indicate they’ve  been falling or having accidents.
  • If they’re still driving, have they had an increase in accidents? Do you notice any new scratches or dents on their car?
  • Are they eating healthy, balanced meals?
  • Look in their refrigerator and pantry. Do they have fresh, unexpired food on hand?
  • Have they forgotten to turn off the stove, oven or other appliance when they finish cooking?
  • Do you see any stockpiled or expired medicine anywhere? These may be a sign that your loved one isn’t remembering to take their medications.
  • Are they paying their bills on time? Do you see large piles of unsorted mail or past due notices?
  • Notice their appearance. Do they always wear the same clothes? Are they clean?
  • Speaking of their appearance, are they clearly bathing and keeping up with their personal grooming?
  • Are they falling behind on their home and yard chores?
  • Do they socialize with friends and family members? Are they still enjoying hobbies or activities the way they used to?

If you answered “no” to many of these questions, it may be time to look into assisted living options near your loved one. 

Why Regency Oaks?

Whether your loved one is considering a senior living community or needs extra support at home, consider Regency Oaks. We’ll help with all the basic activities of daily living – whatever they need, it’s always their choice. Learn more about our new Innovative Home Services program or our trusted assisted living and see which would be the best care option for you loved one by contacting us today!