Making the Move Before It’s Too Late

***Disclaimer: This story isn’t intended to make you sad, but it’s vital you learn what could happen if you delay making a move into assisted living. We see stories like this happen far too often and feel that it is easily preventable, and wanted to shed light on the subject.

“75-year-old David died on the floor in his apartment with no one beside him. He had tripped on the rug and fallen. The phone was too far of a reach to call for help, and his family lived a ways away. He laid on the floor for four days before someone found him, and by then, it was too late.

His mobility was poor as he was unsteady on his feet and he couldn’t move very quickly. As he lived at the top of eight flights of stairs, getting out became too dangerous and he became a prisoner in his own home.

He seemed relatively fine when you spoke with him although he had short-term memory loss and he would spew out the same stories tirelessly. When David was well, he was a bright character who loved crosswords and Chinese cookery.

David had no children, he was the eternal bachelor. After many years of being retired, sitting at home alone watching television, his mental health started gradually to decline. When his niece visited him, he would complain of being incredibly lonely. But, if anyone suggested that he considered moving to assisted living to be with others, he became angry and suspicious. Sadly, his dementia had progressed so far that it was impossible to reason with him.

It was an unworkable situation. David’s condition wasn’t bad enough for the authorities to intervene and move him to assisted living. He exercised his right to stay in his home even if it meant he was at heightened risk of falls and illness. David insisted he was happy where he was.

As David lived many miles from any family members, it fell on his niece to drive across state to check on him, clean him up and attempt to spruce up his home. 

It’s saddest for the family members who witness their loved one die a lonely death simply because they had failed to take steps to ensure they were adequately supported in old age.”

Moving into memory care or assisted living before their conditions worsen means that they will experience a better quality of life and prevent the complications arising from falls or illness.

When families finally decide to move their loved ones to a senior community, there typically has been a life event of some kind. This is when you start to panic and realize that you are unable to continue caring for them, or that your loved one has been hiding how bad their health really is. When you wait too long to move a loved one, or research your options, you put yourself right in the middle of a sinking ship. It’s vital to have a plan. 

Still on the fence? When it comes to making the best choice for your elderly loved one, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Moving your elderly loved one into memory care or assisted living doesn’t need to be a negative experience. Actually, once settled in, people in memory care homes often find that it’s the best move they ever made.

Research shows that loneliness is fatal for the elderly as it creates inflammation in the body which causes disease. Chronic loneliness is sadly very common in the elderly, but when they move to memory care or assisted living homes, they no longer need to suffer in isolation. Daily contact with team members and other residents reduces isolation and improves well-being. The feeling of community has profound benefits on a resident’s state of mind. Azura’s quality of life programs encourage residents to pursue hobbies such as gardening, dancing, music, crafts and to head on trips to shopping centers or the theater.

Azura’s communities allow pets and resident’s own furniture to create a home-from-home. Wellness checks are made every two hours by our team, and assistance is there to help with daily living activities such as bathing, going to the bathroom and cleaning.

All of our homes are equipped with grab bars, wheelchair adapted bathrooms, alarm systems, and secure entryways. So, if mobility is reduced, there are things to hold onto. If a fall were to happen, assistance is only a button-press away.

Most people with the early onset of dementia find that their symptoms improve, especially if the home has a memory care program, like Azura. Our team members receive over 100 hours of dementia-specific training so that we really are providing the best and most supportive care. Daily contact with others and engaging social programs combine to deliver far-reaching benefits for overall well-being. Along with well-being, your loved one will get three freshly prepared meals and be escorted to meals. Just think, there’s no need to worry about washing dishes either as it’s all taken care of.

Move them in and watch them thrive!

It is important for you to do your research; and know what it means to live in an assisted living or memory care community. Many times, you will see your loved one do a complete turnaround, and they are better than they have been in years. Once they are with their neighbors and no longer have the burden of caring for a home, the stress level lowers (for both loved one and caregiver), your loved one’s spirit is high, and you will see them thrive! Do not let waiting for the right time become letting the right time pass.