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It’s never an easy choice. Your parents or loved ones are aging, and nights spent worrying about their health and safety are becoming more and more frequent. But how do you know when it’s time to move a family member to assisted or senior living? Maybe your parents insist they are fine. They’ve lived in the same home for decades and aren’t interested in going anywhere else. Maybe they are physically independent, but their quality of life is diminished by living alone.
For families living in Los Angeles, there are some additional concerns that you may not have in other areas of the country. Getting around Los Angeles generally requires a car, as the city is so spread out and its public transportation system is still developing. There is heavy traffic, even in residential areas, making walking more dangerous for elderly loved ones. Community is harder to maintain with the city so spread out, from Santa Monica to Pasadena. In-home care is often prohibitively expensive. Senior living options in Los Angeles provide not only the care, but the community needed for the best quality of life.
There is no one size fits all answer, but partnering with local professionals who can help you navigate this difficult decision, help find the best fit, and coach you through tough conversations only makes the move go more smoothly. But it will never be easy to make the call.
Here Are 10 Signs Your Loved One is Ready for Assisted Living:
- Bills are not being paid on time, overdue or in collections.
- Personal hygiene is lacking, there is a strong urine odor, or clothing is being worn multiple times without washing.
- Lack of housekeeping. Spoiled food is not thrown away; dishes are dirty, untidy in nature.
- Poor diet and weight loss. Lack of food in the fridge.
- Losing track of medications: forgetting to take them or taking too large a dose.
- Driving is no longer safe: gets lost easily, multiple moving violations, loss of ability to read and follow directions.
- Lack of interest in hobbies, socializing, activities or even leaving the house.
- Trouble getting around the house. Issues going up and down stairs, accessing necessary items, etc.
- Necessary household repairs are not done, mail is not retrieved or opened, and lawn is not taken care of.
- Forgetfulness in routine tasks like not turning off the stove, or leaving candles burning when you leave the house.
Early detection of a potential problem is key, keeping an eye out for the 10 warning signs helps ensure no one is taken by surprise, and that the difficult conversation can begin sooner rather than later.
Moving to assisted or senior living where your loved one can build community, gain assistance in daily tasks, and have all of their meals prepared, can not only give you peace of mind, but can greatly improve your loved one’s quality of life and even life expectancy in many cases. Don’t navigate this tough decision alone. The local team at Assisted Living Locators Los Angeles, Laura Barrett and April Godales, are your no-cost unbiased resource for all things LA assisted living and memory care.
About Assisted Living Locators
Since 2003, thousands of families have been helped by Assisted Living Locators, one of the nation’s leading free senior living placement services. The Los Angeles team services clients from Glendale to Santa Monica, including West Hollywood, Century City, Westwood, and everything in between. The office also represents clients looking for seniors living south of Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley in neighborhoods such as Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Studio City. The Los Angeles office can be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com/contact-us.
