Your elderly mother’s memory is failing her. Your increasing frail father just took another fall. When it comes to aging parents, caregivers constantly grapple with the dilemma of balancing responsibilities. Moreover, you don’t have the proper facilities, time, skills, or aptitude to provide adequate and appropriate care.
Whatever the situation, confronting the issues when a loved one needs more assistance than you can effectively provide is daunting. You want to keep your loved one at home but caring for someone who is no longer in control is difficult, and the decision for alternate care is fraught with emotion. Nearly 25 percent of American households are providing care for an elderly person, but due to demands of geriatric care more than half of that number choose assisted living Arlington TX experts say.
When It’s Time To Worry
Katie Neiheiser can still remember the day. “I came into my mother’s home, and it smelled so awful. What was going on? “I took out something to eat,” my mother said. In the kitchen I found the package of the salmon, the expiration date had long expired. I finally called the doctor.
Katie Neiheiser also found her mother’s car was not in the garage, and her mother couldn’t remember what had happened to the vehicle. “That’s when I decided I cannot do it anymore. I was now neglecting her needs.”
For some time her changes had been noticed when she visited her mother. “It takes a while to realize how much someone is changing and the functional loss that accompanies aging, and I still do not know which of the two of us was the worse.”
Her mother saw no reason to move from her home. Katie Neiheiser, then working full-time and only 55 years old, had suggested this a few times, but her mother felt that her daughter was interfering. Now the only daughter left had to look for a place that encouraged independence, while also offering appropriate care.
“And I thought all the time: am I a terrible daughter because I have practically decided that she can no longer live alone? I just felt miserable,” says Katie.
Little by little, adult children notice that their older parents are less and less able to master everyday life independently. In the beginning, there are often small details, which increasingly become apparent. While children are still pondering what to do, aging parents are finding it harder to cope.
The Advantages Of Assisted Living
Assisted living provides the elderly with a high degree of autonomy while offering various forms of assistance and care. These residences allow those living there to have a greater sense of independence, with day-to-day activities to keep them happy. A barrier-free apartment with on-call emergency staff, reception, concierge service, and any other a-la-carte services like leisure, meal preparation, and household services your loved one has requested. And medical staff is also available to check their health status.
Assisted living facilities also offer the benefits of the following:
Technology and Building Services
- The apartments are optimally adapted to the needs of older people.
- They are barrier-free, have a bathroom that is adapted for seniors with showers.
- Elderly, mostly small kitchen
- Intercom and door opening system
- Emergency call system and fire alarm
- Elevators, wide doors, and corridors, suitable for wheelchairs and walkers
- Common areas, possibly laundry rooms
- Cable and telephone connection
- Organization of social entertainment by staff
Personal Care and Social Situations
- Nursing on site
- Medical care
- Catering to request
- Shopping service on request
- Household and cleaning service on request
- Regular entertainment such as yoga, coffee and tea gatherings
- Support for PC and mobile phone use
- Excursions and celebrations
Lastly, another benefit of assisted living facilities is that as your loved ones need more palliative care, in most cases, the facilities can adapt to their needs. Many options exist, and while the decisions and discussions are not always easy, knowing that you have choices helps tremendously.
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