When spring and summer roll around, you may remember some of your favorite family road trips. While you might not have picked the destination—or the radio station—playing I Spy and belting out tunes in a family sing-a-long was half the fun. Looking back, you never doubted for a second that your parents would be able to navigate there safely, even if you did ask “Are we there yet?” a million times.
As our loved ones age, we may suddenly find ourselves in the driver’s seat. While nearly 75% of older adults today plan to age in place at home, according to AARP, it’s estimated that 70% of people over 65 will need some form of long-term care. Just like getting a flat tire can derail your road trip, your loved one’s needs can change overnight.
This can be a daunting and difficult situation for any family. You want to respect your loved one’s dignity and their desire to remain independent, but it’s obvious they need additional support for their safety and well-being. Where do you go from here?
At Thrive Senior Living, we know your loved one deserves more than a one-size-fits-all solution. Our At Home Communities offer a fresh perspective on senior living—an empowering environment that honors your loved one’s need for independence with compassionate, personalized support there when they need it.
If your family is facing a decision on senior living vs. staying at home, here is a guide with tips to help you determine if your loved one needs more care, the benefits of senior living, and why an aging in place community like our At Home communities in Jesup, Thomson, and Cochran, GA, may be the right option.
What Are the Signs That an Older Adult Needs More Care?
It’s happened to everyone. You get in the car for your morning commute, or you’re cruising down the highway when suddenly, an orange blinking light pops up on your dashboard—usually when you have a big meeting, or you’re already running late.
While cars have owners’ manuals to decode warning lights, it’s harder to spot signs that your loved one needs more care.
Most caregivers underestimate how quickly they’ll need to make care decisions, especially when their loved one requires assistance with daily living. On average, 55% of caregivers searching for senior living communities that offer this kind of care have an urgent need to locate care within 30 days. Most of these searches are triggered by a fall, medical emergency, or other crisis.
If your loved one does have an urgent need for care, you may not be able to find it immediately due to current demand. The typical timeline for moving into an assisted living community is two to four weeks, but some high-demand locations have waitlists lasting six months or more, according to U.S. News and World Report.
How do you know when your loved one needs more care than you can provide? Review this list of warning signs and ask yourself if your loved one has recently demonstrated any of the following:
- Falls: Data from the CDC shows that falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths for adults over 65. Falls may be the result of balance problems, which are common among older adults and can be caused by certain medications or medical conditions, per the National Institute on Aging.
- Withdrawal From Activities or Family and Friends: If you notice your loved one spending more time alone, avoiding friends and family, calling less often, or losing interest in their favorite hobbies, it may be a critical warning sign of depression, dementia, or declining health.
- Medication Misuse or Mixups: Managing a complicated medication regimen can be difficult for anyone; however, as many as 75% of adults over 65 taking multiple medications experience one or more medication errors a year. Older adults are three times more likely to make errors than younger adults, according to the National Institutes of Health.
If your loved one has recently shown one or more of these warning signs, it’s time to start evaluating senior living options that provide additional care and support.
For more signs to watch for, read our previous post on determining if senior living or staying at home is best for your loved one.
Senior Living vs. Staying At Home: What Are the Differences?
The vast majority of older adults today intend to age in place at home. However, their vision of what this entails and the reality are often very different.
Many older adults choose to age in place in their current home because it’s where they feel happiest. The familiarity and comfort of their surroundings make them feel safe. For many older adults, moving to a senior living community means leaving the community they’ve been a part of for decades. Their social safety net of friends and neighbors helps them to stay active and socialize regularly. Aging in place at home may also seem more affordable, especially if they’ve paid off their mortgage.
There can, however, be unforeseen challenges to aging in place at home. If older adults start to lose their vision or become unable to drive, visiting friends and getting out of the house may no longer be an option.
They may feel most comfortable at home, but does their home have the safety features they need to manage on their own, such as a first-floor bedroom and grab bars in the shower? A Healthy Aging poll revealed that 45% of adults between 50 and 80 had not put much thought into what modifications may be needed as their care needs increase over time. Even if they’re no longer making mortgage payments, modifications to improve accessibility can cost between $3,000 and $15,000 on average.
Ultimately, you and your loved one don’t have to choose. At Thrive Senior Living, we’ve reimagined senior living to provide the autonomy and independence of aging in place in a supportive environment.
The At Home Difference: Benefits of Our Aging in Place Communities
Each of our At Home locations is truly an aging in place community. We give each of our residents the freedom to discover new connections, possibilities, and meaning, along with compassionate, personalized assistance when needed. We have three At Home locations located across Georgia for convenient care in your area, with an abundance of all-inclusive amenities.
- Warm, Welcoming Community: At Home Senior Living is more than just a place to live, it’s a community where every resident is valued and where kindness, connection, and joy are at the heart of everything we do.
- Maintenance-Free Living for Seniors: Each of our At Home communities offers a maintenance-free lifestyle. Laundry and housekeeping are taken care of. Your loved one won’t need to worry about making dinner or grocery shopping either, with three chef-prepared meals and snacks daily. We even have a beauty parlor conveniently located on-site.
- Care You Can Trust: Our At Home Communities include 24/7 nursing oversight, customized care plans, and on-site physical therapy.
- The Ability to Thrive: Instead of spending their energy doing everything on their own, your loved one can make new connections and find time to do what they love. Imagine seeing that spark return to their eyes again.
Come Home to At Home Senior Living
Your loved one may be hesitant about senior living because they’re worried about giving up their home and their community. But choosing the right aging in place community is about everything your family will gain.
They’ll gain new friends without giving up the safety and comfort of home. With maintenance-free living, they’ll have more time and energy to do what they love. As a caregiver, you’ll regain your relationship and enjoy spending quality time together again. Instead of being in provider mode, taking care of their health and basic needs, you can just be their son, their daughter, or their partner again. Best of all, you’ll both gain peace of mind knowing they have the support, encouragement, and care they need for wherever the road ahead takes them.
Visit our resources page for more guides on transitioning to senior living, or contact us to visit one of our conveniently located At Home Communities.