When to Consider Moving to a Senior Care Facility

Learn the signs of when it’s the appropriate time to move your loved one into a senior care facility.

The need for senior care is often evident. If your father just had a stroke, the hospital’s care team may organize his transfer to a senior care facility with specialized rehab. However, the signs aren’t always so conspicuous, so the decision may not be so straightforward.

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As time progresses, you might start questioning, “Is mom still safe living all by herself?” In these moments, it becomes crucial to recognize when it’s time to consider moving to a senior care facility.

Levels of Senior Care

Often, a senior care journey begins with more independent levels of care. When it’s time fora senior to move to a higher level of care, like a nursing home, it’s usually because they need medical assistance and extra help with their daily activities.

Entry options for senior care often include:

• Assisted living. Assisted living facilities are for older adults who need help with activities of daily living, like bathing or walking.
• Board and care homes. Board and care homes, or group homes, are smaller abodes that care for 20 or fewer seniors. Skilled nursing care is usually not offered at board and care homes, and it’s similar to an assisted living environment.
• Continuing care retirement communities, or CCRCs. Sometimes known as life plan communities, CCRCs are like a campus for senior care. Depending on the community, they may offer a range of services from independent living quarters to skilled nursing care. 

Assisted living is a frequent first choice and a great option for seniors who need some assistance and don’t want to sacrifice the social atmosphere. These communities are secure and staffed with caregivers and medical personnel. According to the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, more than 800,000 Americans are members of an assisted living community.

Naturally, many seniors might be apprehensive about the transition to any senior care facility. However, patients don’t have to worry about much other than enjoying themselves.The gym, games and social activities are all provided for them,” says Dr. Michael Tehrani, a geriatric physician with MedWell Medical in Long Beach, California. At home, seniors might feel alone without much to do, but when they are in assisted living, they are surrounded by others who share similar interests.

source/ U.S. News