Are you ready for Assisted Living?

Christiana Care Kicks off Participation in Home Care Program (Photo credit: Christiana Care)

By Bob Gregory

Most of us want to be independent and it begins in early childhood and continues to the day we leave this world.  Asking for help is hard for a lot of people but knowing when to ask for help is even harder.  Assessing whether you need to live where someone can assist you with normal activities is key to  a continued healthy and safe life in your senior years.  There are a few simple questions that you should ask yourself and answer very honestly

Ask Yourself these Questions--Answer Honestly!

1)  Has transportation become a problem for you?  Are you having trouble driving or are you afraid to drive? If you take public transportation, has it become difficult to keep the schedules and take correct routes?  Lack of transportation can quicklycause you to become a shut-in and miss the pleasures of shopping, visiting friends and making important appointments.

  

2) Are you having difficulty maintaining your home?  If you find your bills are not getting paid, repairs are not being made or cleaning has become more of a monumental task than a chore, then you may want to consider alternative living arrangements.  This is especially true if you find yourself seeking help for simple household chores or if you simply don’t want to do them anymore.

3) Do you feel alone or unsafe?  If your mobility has decreased, whether driving or walking, you can easily become isolated from friends and family.  Living alone always raises safety issues. Safety does not necessarily mean from crime, it also encompasses falling, injuries or becoming ill with no one to help or check on you.

4) Finally, do you depend on others frequently for help?  If you find you are always asking for help with transportation, household chores or more personal items, it may be time to seek a place where you are not dependent on the help of family and friends.

There are many other signs and questions you should ask yourself, but these four questions tend to indicate a need for an Assisted Living Facility.  You should discuss the answers to these questions with your family and certainly with your physician.  There are other alternatives to Assisted Living Facilities such as Adult Day Care and In-Home Care.

Bob Gregory is an advocate for Seniors and is one of the founders of  www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.

As always, we welcome your comments and advice!

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