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6 REASONS WHY LIVING AT HOME IS OFTEN NOT BEST FOR THE ELDERLY

11/27/2018

3 Comments

 
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Let's cut to the chase. In over 25 years of my experience working with the aging, very rarely have I had someone excited about leaving home. It's understandable. There are a million reasons to want to stay in the comfort of their home. The reality is that more times than not, it is NOT what is best.
It's a hard decision for seniors or their loved ones to make. Having facts about the benefits of Senior Living Communities can help make it a little easier.
1) SAFETY
By far, this is the most important reason living at home is frequently not the best decision. Assisted living communities are designed with safety in mind. Falls, burns and becoming lost due to wandering are dramatically reduced when living in a senior community. Unfortunately, once an injury occurs, it often permanently changes the seniors quality of life and even reduces their life expectancy. So often, the desire to age at home sets the elderly up for a preventable and irrevocable injury.
2) HEALTH SUPERVISION
Senior living communities have trained staff that work with our aging loved ones every day. They are constantly looking for any signs of illness or any physical or mental deterioration. Catching signs & symptoms early can mean all the difference in the world when it comes to recovery and maintaining quality of life.
3) AGE APPROPRIATE MENTAL STIMULATION
It is proven that stimulation and socialization are critical for maintaining health in the aging adult. Loneliness leads to depression and even malnutrition. Lack of adequate mental stimulation is shown to decrease memory and cognitive thinking. Senior living communities are FILLED with a variety of age appropriate activities and events to keep them mentally stimulated and socializing.
4) STAYING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
We all know how important staying active is. It maintains a healthy weight, strength, & balance. All very important for the aging adult. Most senior living communities are equipped with gyms, have physical therapists that come on-site, have safe outdoor areas for walking and have social events that keep them active. Group exercises, dances & day trips are some ways senior living communities keep their residents moving!
5) NUTRITIOUS MEALS
Shopping, cooking and cleaning up becomes increasingly difficult as we age. Doing all of that work for a party of one makes it an even bigger challenge. Seniors often lose interest in food because of a decrease in their ability to taste, depression or lack of energy to prepare it. There are many reasons why elderly become malnourished when living at home. Malnutrition can lead to weakness, decreased immune system, and decreased muscle and bone mass resulting in illness and/or injury.
Retirement/assisted living communities offer a wide variety of healthy prepared meals. Most offer snacks at any time of day and night. Staff keep an eye on residents to ensure they are maintaining a healthy diet and weight.
6) LESS STRESS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
I saved this for last because I know it can be hard to talk about. Most families do any and everything to take care of their loved one. You sacrifice and work hard to provide the care your loved one deserves. Sometimes, you just can no longer give the care that is needed. Often, care needs become more than family can provide. Things begin to fall through the cracks. Even the caregiver starts to have a deterioration in health. The stress and guilt can be enormous when you can no longer be what they need. It's difficult to make the decision to place a loved one in care and so often it's only after there is a preventable crisis that the decision is made. Understanding your options and the benefits of senior living communities will equip you to make the best choices for your loved one.

At Patriarch Placement, we connect older adults and their loved ones to appropriate care & senior living resources. We provide support & expert guidance in navigating your options. Our services are free to you!
3 Comments
Dyaln Peterson link
9/3/2019 03:02:44 pm

I like what you said about senior living communities having staff that are trained to work with the elderly. My parents can't take care of themselves the way that they used to, and I want to make sure that they're okay. I'll pass this information along to them so that they can look further into their options for living in a senior community for their own safety.

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Greta James link
12/5/2019 06:56:19 pm

Thank you so much for pointing out that it can be hard for elderly people to take care of themselves, such as making and buying stuff for nutritious meals. My great uncle is getting older and is having a really hard time going up and down the stairs of his house. It is getting to the point where he is just staying in bed and not eating. I wonder if we should start looking for assisted living centers that could better take care of him.

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Henry Killingsworth link
3/19/2020 06:03:29 pm

I thought it was interesting when you explained that seniors should not live at home because loneliness can lead to depression and that many senior living communities have facilities that allow seniors to stay active. My parents will be turning sixty-five soon, and I am worried that they are getting bored because they are always wanting to join my family in our activities. I think it would be a good idea for my parents to find a community to live in.

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Please note:   The information on our web site is intended to provide an overview to help educate families  when searching for care and housing options.  Patriarch Placement  provides this information, content, materials and advice for informational purposes only.  We strongly encourage families to do their own due diligence. The information on our site in no way replaces any professional medical, legal or financial advice .  Please call us and we will gladly help direct you to professionals who can help with medical, legal and financial services .