06/04/2020
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Steps to Take Before Moving Your Loved One into Assisted Living
If you’re a caregiver to a senior family member, there may come a time when you can no longer meet their needs on your own. Turning to the help of in-home care, adult day care services, or assisted living facilities is a great way to ensure your loved one receives the level of care they need and deserve. Since this process can be complicated—and fairly emotional—it’s important to plan ahead. Here are some steps to guide you through it.
Find Ways to Pay for Care
Paying for care is a common source of stress for seniors and their family members. Before exploring your options for funding assistance, check if your loved one has life insurance that can be sold for cash. You might even find that their policy includes a long-term care rider that will cover the costs of care while your loved one is still alive. At the very least, their life insurance will help pay for their final expenses down the line. If your loved one isn’t sure whether they have a life insurance policy, LHLIC suggests helping them search through their old mail, personal belongings, and safety deposit boxes.
Consider Your Alternative Care Options
Keep in mind that assisted living isn’t your only option. Aging in place has several important benefits for seniors, so try to find ways to keep your loved one at home before considering a move to assisted living. In-home care and adult day care services are great alternatives! Both of these services can give you a break from your caregiving responsibilities. At the same time, in-home care or adult day care will help your senior loved one gain access to professional assistance, increasing their overall quality of life and providing valuable socialization opportunities every day!
Watch for Signs That It’s Time for Assisted Living
While aging in place works well for many seniors, there may be times when assisted living is the best option. Keep your eye out for certain behaviors or indicators that suggest it’s time to move your loved one into assisted living. For example, seniors who experience frequent falls or other household accidents may do better in an assisted living environment where they can receive round-the-clock staff accessibility. Your loved one may also benefit from assisted living if they suffer from mobility issues that make it hard for them to socialize. Assisted living provides a wealth of opportunities for companionship and socialization that may otherwise be inaccessible to your loved one.
If your loved one is showing signs of dementia, it might be time to consider memory care, a specialized kind of long-term care for people with memory issues. According to Healthline, some of the early signs of dementia include short-term memory impairments, personality changes, confusion, repetition, and difficulty completing normal tasks.
Have the Conversation with Your Loved One
When you’re finally prepared to speak to your loved one about moving into assisted living, broach the subject carefully. They might be resistant to have this conversation the first time you introduce the topic, so try to be receptive to their feelings and avoid pushing them to make quick decisions. DailyCaring recommends easing into your conversations with simple ice breakers. It can also help to have other family members present, as long as everyone remains calm and patient during the discussion.
The ticket to a productive conversation about individual care, is respect and empathy. Put yourself in your loved one’s shoes and consider how you would feel in their situation. Listen to their concerns, emphasize that the ultimate decision is theirs, and let them voice their opinions—even if you disagree.
Receiving additional care, and ultimately moving a loved one into assisted living isn’t easy, but it’s something that many of us will have to go through at some point in our lives. Making this decision is tough, to say the least, and it’s normal to feel a sense of guilt. Acknowledging your emotions will help both you and your loved one adjust to these changes.
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