Parent Getting Older? 2 Things That Are A Sign They Need Assisted Living

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Your parent likely spent many years taking care of you, and now it may be time to turn the tables. This can be hard on you, but it is something you have to deal with to keep your parent safe. Below are two signs that it is time to put him or her in assisted living.

Memory

It is normal for memory to become worse as you age, but your parent's memory loss may be cause of concern. For example, if you talk to him or her about things from the past, he or she may not remember. For instance, if your parent loved to garden with flowers, they may not remember anything about it. Because this was something that they really enjoyed, it is something you need to worry about.

Your parent may call family members by the wrong names, put something in the stove to cook and never turn it on, or forget an outing that they had planned all week.

If your parent's memory is this bad or even worse, this may be due to dementia or a sign of Alzheimer's. You should call an assisted living facility to set up arrangements to care for your parent. They can make sure your parent is always supervised, and there is usually a doctor on staff in case something happens.

Money

When visiting your parent, you may notice there is a stack of mail that has never been opened. You should go through this mail, as there may be bills that need to be paid. There could be letters from creditors or bankers.

Check your parent's checkbook to make sure it is in balance. If you notice nothing has been written down for some time, your parent likely quit writing things down.

Look around his or her house. If you notice many new things, such as new clothes, dishes, etc., they could be spending money they do not have. This is a cause for concern if they have always been good with their money. They can also be taken advantage of by people in situations like this.

Your parent may resist assisted living, so make sure you broach the subject carefully with them. Take them to different facilities in your area, such as Harbor View Home, to find a place they will be most comfortable in. They should have some say in the process, even though you will need to make most of the decisions yourself.

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13 April 2015

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