Deciding on the right level of senior care for your aging parents can feel overwhelming. Nonetheless, it’s important to figure out. Finding a community that prioritizes your parents’ safety will help them maintain their happiness and well-being as they age.
To choose the right level of care for your parents, it helps to:
- Recognize their needs & abilities
- Evaluate their physical health
- Assess their cognitive wellness
- Look at their social connections
- Explore senior living options
Each of these steps plays an important role in creating a care plan for your parents.
Recognize Their Needs & Abilities
First, begin by learning more about your parents’ daily routines and challenges. This is the foundation of everything else. Your parents have individual needs, and these needs determine the level of senior care they require.
It helps to look for:
- Any difficulty in performing daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or dressing
- Signs of memory loss or confusion that impact their safety
- Physical health concerns, including mobility issues or chronic conditions
- Changes in mood or behavior that may indicate emotional challenges
- Current level of social interaction and engagement with others
These signs all indicate your parents need more support than they’re currently receiving. By learning about the challenges they’re facing, you can narrow down the options and choose the level of care that your parents need.
Evaluate Their Physical Health
Physical well-being directly impacts the level of assistance your parents need in their everyday lives. Age often brings challenges that can affect strength, movement, and flexibility, all of which are essential for remaining independent.
Watch for signs that your parents are struggling in their everyday life, such as:
- Difficulty with walking or balancing
- Trouble standing up from a seated position
- Frequent falls or fear of falling
- Struggles with lifting or carrying objects
- Noticeable fatigue after minimal physical activity
If these signs seem familiar, a more supportive environment might be the right fit.
Fortunately, assisted living can help. These communities offer tailored services designed to support your loved one with the everyday tasks that challenge them. It’s an excellent way to restore independence to your loved one through personalized care.
Assess Their Cognitive Wellness
Cognitive health is another key factor to consider. Minor changes in memory or problem-solving are a normal part of aging, but serious changes are not. If your loved one struggles with severe cognitive changes, they may require more specialized care.
Watch for signs of cognitive decline, such as:
- Forgetting familiar tasks or details
- Confusion about time, places, or events
- Problems with speaking or understanding language
- Misplacing items or being unable to retrace steps
If these behaviors sound familiar, it’s time to intervene. Memory care is often a stand-out option for these situations. Memory care communities offer a specialized lifestyle tailored to those living with serious cognitive conditions. This level of care helps preserve seniors’ safety and dignity as their cognitive challenges progress.
Look at Their Social Connections
Social engagement is more important than most people think. Especially for seniors, socialization is necessary for maintaining mental, emotional, and cognitive health.
However, isolation is often a serious problem for older adults. Isolation can lead, in turn, to feelings of loneliness or depression, which can harm your parent’s overall well-being. This is why socialization is so important for seniors—it helps preserve their quality of life.
Think about how often your parents spend time with others. If they regularly spend time alone or rarely leave the house, you may need to step in. A move to assisted or independent living can be a great way to provide your parents with all kinds of new social opportunities.
Explore Senior Living Options
After evaluating your parents’ needs, it’s time to consider your different options. Senior living communities aren’t a one-size-fits-all, so understanding your options is key.
Your options include:
Assisted Living
If independence is still a priority but extra help is needed, assisted living is a great option. This lifestyle is about balancing independence with professional support to preserve quality of life.
Assisted living communities offer support with services like medication management, dressing assistance, housekeeping, and daily meals. It’s a way to give your parents access to professional support without interfering with their autonomy. It’s a great choice for parents who require daily assistance but want to stay independent.
Memory Care
For those experiencing cognitive challenges, memory care communities provide structure and professional attention. These environments are designed to reduce confusion, ensure safety, and encourage cognitive involvement.
In memory care, residents enjoy tailored programs and secure settings that respect their unique needs. These include therapy programs, engaging activities, and experienced caregivers at all times. Memory care communities provide round-the-clock support for complex memory-related challenges, and they’re an amazing way to restore dignity to a parent in need.
Respite Care
Sometimes families just need short-term support, whether recovering from surgery, traveling, or managing caregiver burnout. Respite living provides temporary, full-service care in a welcoming community setting.
At Bentley Assisted Living at Branchville, respite stays include the same services offered to full-time residents: meals, personal care, medication support, and access to engaging activities. It’s a great way to experience the community, receive care during transitional periods, or simply give caregivers a break.
A Plan for Your Parents’ Future
Choosing the right senior living solution is about finding a place where your parents feel supported and valued, a place like Bentley Assisted Living at Branchville. Here, your parents can enjoy a lifestyle designed just for them in a community built to meet their needs. Schedule a tour with us today, and together, we can plan for your parents’ future.
