How Senior Living Helps Aging Parents and Gives You Peace Of Mind
Children — even adult children — turn to their parents for support. You see your parents as caregivers, and it’s often a surprise when the roles become reversed. Seemingly out of the blue, you notice your parents slowing down, and you may even start to worry about your parents living in a house by themselves. Your loved ones, though, almost always want to maintain their independence. All this might leave you wondering how to help your aging parents. With a variety of senior living options available, it’s a smart solution to satisfy you and them.
Benefits of Senior Living For You and Your Parents
Many retirement communities are designed to provide the independent lifestyle active seniors want and offer higher levels of care if they need it. The support is available but isn’t a part of seniors’ lives until it’s necessary.
Why Senior Living Is Good For Your Parents
An active lifestyle with more freedom
Retirement communities allow seniors to live without the hassle and frustrations of home maintenance. Enriching activities, wellness programs and interesting classes help seniors stay active and healthy and explore more of their interests. Community living offers older adults the opportunity to find more joy in their retirement years.
A plan for future health care
If your family member selects a Life Plan Community, they’ll give themselves — and you — greater peace of mind because they’ll already have convenient access to higher levels of care if they need it. With assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and more, residents can remain on the familiar senior living campus even if their health needs change.
A wide array of residence choices
Your parents probably have varied opinions about downsizing their residence. That’s why senior living communities offer a myriad of living options. With a campus full of amenities around them, your loved one can decide to lighten their load and downsize to a one-bedroom apartment or they can choose a villa or cottage for more space and seclusion. There are no wrong choices — just what’s right for your mom and dad.
Why Senior Living Communities Are Good For Adult Children, Too
You’ll know they’re safe
According to the CDC, 25% of seniors fall each year, but only half will report it to their doctor. At a senior living community, older adults don’t have to strain themselves with yard work or home maintenance, protecting them from unnecessary accidents. Communities are specifically designed to minimize the risk of tripping, but if your loved one does fall at a community, trained team members and supportive neighbors will be close by to help.
You’ll know they’re socializing and having fun
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report that one-fourth of adults aged 65 or older are considered socially isolated. At senior living communities, residents can make new friends on campus, socialize at any time, and participate in enrichment programming. They can still enjoy the companionship and support of their lifelong loved ones while adding friendly team members and interesting neighbors.
Start the Discussion About Senior Living
You and your parents should discuss a move to a senior living community with openness, patience and genuine affection. Even when moving leads to new and vibrant opportunities, it’s always a big decision, and leaving a long-time residence can evoke a lot of strong emotions. Be patient with each other.
If you’re ready to talk about your loved one’s senior living options, use our Community Assistant chat feature or contact us here.
