Why It’s Time to Consider Assisted Living?
Our jobs as caregivers become very important as our family members and loved ones begin to age. Creating environments that are rich in culture, wellness and activity are important in increasing the elderly individuals overall quality of life and difficult to achieve at home. Increased quality of life is something we all strive for, and the elderly need us to help add to their overall experience. At times this becomes difficult to execute as our loved ones need more assistance as they begin to age. We begin exploring our options for the best level of care for our loved ones and at times it can seem overwhelming.
There are a lot of options available in the community and gathering all the information, taking tours and speaking to a variety of different people can make it difficult to assess the best possible placement for your loved one.
Here are some things to consider when making your decision to consider Assisted Living:
- Mom or Dad is struggling to find meaning and interact with others.
As we age communication and everyday tasks can become more difficult. If you are noticing that your loved one is avoiding interaction and not taking the time to engage in once meaningful activities it may be time to consider assisted living. In an assisted living facility residents are encouraged to participate in activities as well as engage with others during meal times. At the Tanglewood Group we also provide wellness based activities as well as one-to-one activities to increase social interaction, decreasing depression and increasing their overall quality of life.
- They are struggling to complete everyday tasks.
When our loved one begins to decline in ways that interfere with completing basic hygiene tasks as well as laundry, taking their medications, etc. it may be time to consider a higher level of care. In an assisted living facility there are staff trained to assist them with completion of these tasks. Here at the Tanglewood Group we provide assistance with each resident’s individual needs to stay healthy and happy. These services include meal preparation, medication management, personal care services, case management services, and opportunities for socialization through our activities department as well as housekeeping and laundry services.
- Your loved one is showing signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Every person with dementia is unique and presents with different abilities as well as needs. For those living with dementia, everyday tasks can be a challenge. It is also a challenge for those whom care for those living with dementia. There are ways that our environment can be structured to assist us with everyday tasks maintaining our ability to continue to engage in meaningful activity. The ability to remain socially and physically active is a crucial measure for one’s quality of life. The single most important wayto help individuals living with dementia is to engage their brain, provide stimulation and increase their ability to remain purposefully involved in their surroundings. We can minimize depression, anger and sadness by creating moments that assist our loved ones and residents in the ability to sustain their quality of life.. Here at the Tanglewood Group we believe that good dementia care involves developing preference based activities that are tailored to the resident’s interests by getting to know the resident and using the information we know about that resident.
Although placement in a facility can be a difficult decision, it is always best to begin with assessing your loved ones overall happiness and the ability to meet their basic needs. If their quality of life is suffering it may be time to ask for help from those that can assist in making their final years comfortable and secure.
The Tanglewood Group has been offering quality care to seniors in the greater Jamestown area for over 30 years. For more information about any of our services or facilities please call 716-483-2876.
