If you have an older relative who lives on their own, one of the hardest things you might have to do is figure out whether you need to find an assisted living situation for them. They might be very proud and stubborn. That combination can lead to them fighting when you try to convince them they need help taking care of themselves.
You might go back and forth with the person in question, till at times, you’ll be uncertain of what the best action to take is. You might feel like the situation is driving you a little crazy. Elder care issues can be as difficult for the other family members as they are for the individual who needs help.
However, there are certain indications that the time has come to be more forceful and find an assisted living situation for them. Your incentive will likely be the love and respect you have for the older person.
They Keep Forgetting Things
Some older individuals fight so strongly against going into a nursing home or assisted living because they’re worried about elder abuse. The National Council on Aging says that as many as 10% of people 60 or older experience elder abuse, so this is a legitimate concern for both you and the person in question.
However, if you see that memory loss is becoming a regular part of your older relative’s life, that might be the time when you have no choice but to step in more forcefully than you have in the past. If your relative has advanced dementia, and they keep leaving the house and being unable to find their way home, then they’re potentially in danger.
They might wander onto the highway or into a high crime area. Some unscrupulous person could take advantage of them. You want to avoid these scenarios at all costs.
They Keep Falling Down
Many issues can cause older adults to fall often. There might be problems with equilibrium due to bad knees, back problems, circulatory issues, or all kinds of other conditions and ailments.
It’s a smart idea to get your older relative a medical alert device that they can carry on them at all times. They can press it for help if they fall.
However, a time will come when that solution might be insufficient. If they’re falling every day, and trips to and from the hospital have become common, then you might need to have a serious talk with them about finding another living arrangement.
They Are Getting in Frequent Car Accidents
No one likes someone telling them they’re too old or feeble to drive. Still, if your older relative is getting in frequent car accidents, then that might be the determining factor in whether they can continue to live on their own.
Some older adults can rely on public transportation, taxis, ride-share programs, etc. The problem is that eventually, they might become too confused or feeble to figure out how to catch the bus, or how to call for a cab or an Uber.
When an individual can no longer drive, that does not necessarily mean it’s time to find an assisted living situation. It can be a strong indicator of it, though.
They Keep Getting Themselves in Dangerous Situations at Home
Part of mental or physical deterioration can manifest itself in an inability to do things like cook or clean. Your older relative might have been a great cook at one time, but what if they’re setting the house on fire now every time they try to use the stove?
Being unable to function in day-to-day life, even if that means just puttering around the house, cooking meals, bathing, etc. means that a person’s ability to live on their own is waning. It’s a warning sign if the fire department calls you and says they’ve been out to your relative’s house three times in the past month.
However, what might convince you to look for assisted living for your relative might come from your observations when you visit them. See if they have lost weight, or if it’s obvious they’ve stopped bathing. Basic hygiene problems or a house that they haven’t cleaned in ages are reliable clues.
If you can convince your older relative that it’s time to move into assisted living or a nursing home, make sure you do some research. You want to put them somewhere that has excellent feedback from residents and their relatives.