When it’s time to consider senior living for your parents, the right community makes all the difference. Your parents deserve a life of safety, convenience, and comfort, so staying informed is crucial. By planning ahead and being proactive, you can choose the right level of care for your parents.
It helps to:
- Understand your parent’s needs
- Assess their physical health
- Consider their cognitive health
- Think about social habits
- Compare your different options
These steps make it significantly easier to make an informed choice.
Understand Your Parent’s Needs
The first step is understanding your parent’s daily abilities and needs. These are the defining factors for their overall needs. Understanding their needs and limitations is essential—it’s the first step towards finding your parents the right level of care.
Start by breaking down their everyday abilities and struggles into 3 categories:
- Physical
- Cognitive
- Social
Having an open conversation with your parents—or observing their current routines—can help you determine where they need support. This information is valuable, and it helps you make your choice.
Assess Their Physical Health
Begin with your parents’ physical health. Age sometimes poses unique challenges for mobility and flexibility, and these are essential parts of staying independent.
Think about how they manage everyday tasks such as:
- Walking around the house or neighborhood
- Preparing meals
- Maintaining personal hygiene
- Handling household chores
- Running errands and shopping
If they struggle with some everyday tasks, consider this when looking at care options. The right level of care would involve professional caregivers stepping in when your parents need help. This support is key to helping your parents maintain their independence.
Consider Their Cognitive Health
Next, it’s time to think about cognitive health. The human mind is complicated, and it changes over the years. Some adjustments are normal, while others can be a sign of serious conditions like dementia.
Keep an eye out for signs of cognitive changes, such as:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Difficulty planning or solving problems
- Confusion with time or place
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
These all indicate the need for specialized care. If your loved one is dealing with cognitive decline, they’ll require the right level of care. Cognitive abilities play an important role in your loved one’s quality of life, so addressing them is key to helping your parents.
Think About Social Habits
One often overlooked part of health is social habits. Socialization isn’t just about feeling good or sharing stories—it’s closely linked to a high quality of life. Regular socializing can:
- Improve mental health
- Reduce depression and anxiety
- Boost cognitive abilities
- Support emotional well-being
- Strengthen immune function
If your parents regularly feel isolated or lonely, they’re at a higher risk of significant health problems. Keep this in mind when choosing their future home—the social opportunities offered will make all the difference.
Compare Your Different Options
Once you have an understanding of your parents’ needs and abilities, it’s time to plan for the future. The information you gain during the assessments helps you make an informed choice about their care.
Senior living communities aren’t universal, however. They can be split into 3 key categories:
Each of these offers its own unique benefits. So what’s the difference between them?
Independent Living
For older adults looking to simplify their lifestyle, independent living stands out. It’s a unique approach to senior living focusing on community, convenience, and simplicity. Independent living is designed to offer older adults a chance to live a maintenance-free life in an active, engaging community.
In independent living, your parents can enjoy all kinds of perks. There are housekeeping services, excellent dietary options, and plenty of new experiences. This lifestyle is ideal for seniors who can stay entirely independent but want a simpler, downsized lifestyle.
Assisted Living
If your parents want to stay independent but struggle with some daily tasks, assisted living is a great choice. This lifestyle is about balancing personal autonomy with professional support to help your parents every day.
In assisted living, your parents gain access to:
- Help with medication management
- Assistance with bathing and dressing
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Nutritious meals provided daily
- New social experiences
The goal is to encourage independence with a safety net of care whenever needed. This way, your parents can keep living the life they love—and get support if a daily task is challenging.
Memory Care
When memory impairment, dementia, or cognitive decline are involved, memory care is an excellent option. This is a specialized approach to senior living focusing on supporting those living with cognitive decline.
Memory care is tailored around structured routines, cognitive engagement, and professional care. Safety is a core focus—there are all kinds of measures in place to help your loved one stay safe and secure in their everyday lives. Memory care offers:
- 24/7 supervision by trained staff
- Personalized care plans
- Secure environments to prevent wandering
- Activities designed to stimulate cognitive function
- Assistance with daily tasks and activities
Memory care prioritizes comfort and familiarity to help your loved ones feel supported, cared for, and understood. It’s about making every moment matter, regardless of cognitive decline.
The Right Community for Your Parents
Finding the right level of care is about searching for a community where your parents are safe, comfortable, and happy. They deserve a place to call home—a place like ours here at Eagle Point Senior Living.
We offer several lifestyles tailored to seniors in need, and we’re ready to help your parents find the home they deserve. Schedule a tour with us today, and let’s find their future home—together.
