As we journey through life, transitions are inevitable. For many seniors and their families, one of the most significant transitions can be the decision to move into a senior living community. It’s a choice that’s often met with a mix of emotions, from apprehension to relief and everything in between.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are several signs that may indicate it’s time to consider senior living, according to The Willows of Easley’s Executive Director, Laura Gill Spearman.
“Those signs include a change in mental status/physical status, decreased social engagement, increased depression, frequent falls, unexplained bruising, lack of general housekeeping or anxiety over caring for a home, missed medication, to name a few,” she explained.
Spearman and other experts in the field confirm the importance of exploring senior living early, before an emergency situation arises. Often times, families will wait too long to begin the search for senior care options and not fully understand the different levels of care that are offered. These include independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.
An early search decreases the stress involved and the likelihood of making a hasty decision without all the facts. Research should include word of mouth from family/friends/medical providers, Google reviews and the communities’ social media presence, Spearman explained.
Some tips and ideas to consider:
- Select two to four communities to visit and take notes or pictures while there to refer back to. Visits during meal times are a great way to have the opportunity to sample the food!
- Be aware of your surroundings during those visits: the look, smell, feel of a community. Do the residents and staff look happy and well cared for?
- Speak with the residents and staff while you are there and get an idea of their personal experiences with the community. Ensuring the feeling of peace and comfort in the decision made is very important in this process.
The benefits of community living are too immeasurable to count; however, socialization always hits the top 10 list of perks.
“Residents have the opportunity to socialize with like-minded people who are the same age,” Spearman said. “Other benefits include planned activities that maintain dignity and offer a variety of options for different interests. And residents don’t have to think about maintaining their surroundings.”
Medication management, meal preparation, medical transportation, therapy services, and assistance will all activities of daily living when needed allow the family caregiver to just be the family member again.
The Willows of Easley provides the tools for residents to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible. Seniors who join The Willows of Easley community quickly discover that it’s not like home, it is home.