5 Signs That Your Elder Must Shift to Assisted Living

Learn how to know if assisted living is the right decision for your beloved elders.

Should you send your hale and hearty elder to care facility?

Most people think assisted living is ideal for those who are lonely and are not keeping well. Besides health concerns and loneliness, there are many reasons making an assisted living facility a great choice at this point of life.

Here we will discuss the signs helping you know if your beloved elder should move to an assisted living facility.

They Have Mobility Problems:

Do they need help in dressing, bathing and other errands? If they are facing problems in doing their everyday’s tasks, chances are their mobility is not efficient like before. It is more problematic if your elders are living alone. They always need somebody around to take care of them. This may be a good time for them to be moved to assisted living facility.

They Have Worsening Health Problems with Slow Recovery:

You can’t afford to leave an elder at home when they have serious medical condition like COPD, dementia, and heart failure tendency. But you also won't be able to be constantly present due to your schedule or other commitments. At an assisted living facility, they remain under medical supervision and get frequent health checkups.

Noticeable Weight Gain or Weight Loss:

Does your elder look much thinner than they used to? This can be because of the underlying health conditions like depression or even cancer. It is also possible that they are not able to shop for groceries or cook food easily, leading to weight loss. But that doesn’t mean that excessive weight gain is the sign of their good health. If they are putting on weight, diabetes and dementia may be slowing them down or they don’t remember eating. Someone with money problems would choose fewer fresh foods and more packaged foods like pasta or bread.

Therefore, you must take the dramatic changes in their weight seriously as it may be due to the poor care.

If They are No Longer “Social”:

The social circle of the person shrinks as he or she ages. However, being socially active at this age is important to deal with the problems causing by loneliness. Know if your elders still go for lunches or outings with friends. Do they participate in group events and religious activities? Loneliness can trigger depression and heart problems in older adults. Sending them to assisted living is really useful where they can enjoy the company of like-minded people.

They are No Longer Able to Maintain Their Home:

Given the health and mobility issues in this age, a person can’t perform the household chores and maintenance tasks easily. Have a look in and around their home. Do you find cluttered rooms, stale food on shelves or excess of unused items? Are their bushes that haven’t been trimmed for a long time or mails piling up?

If so, it is clear sign that an elder is no longer able to do these common errands with ease.

Conclusion:

With the help of these signs, you can easily decide if your elders need to be assisted living services. However, it's important not force to them in any manner. Help them see the advantages and great benefits to assisted living communities so that they can be excited and look forward to adventure and comfort in their golden years.

3 Outstanding Ways To Enjoy Life After Retirement

Throughout the life you strive hard, put greater efforts, achieve your goals, and do much more. And then finally arrives your retirement time. What more? Don’t fret over the idea of being free in this period and learn some simple ideas to enjoy it to the fullest.

You cannot stop the growing age, isn’t it? In case, you have reached your retirement or about to reach, regardless of the fact what you’re, an empty nester, baby boomer or just a retiree, you need to know that you still have to lead a  beautiful life.

Yes, life is beautiful, and it is you who make it cherishing. In fact, take it as an opportunity, why? Reason being; now you have progressed to a stage in life, where you can live like a boss! As now you have time to do whatever you want. So, no more worries about running a business, completing the targets, raising a family, or working for a boss. These obligations have always kept you from doing the things you wanted in your younger age. But not anymore!

In any case, you are not really sure how to enjoy your retirement phase of life;

 Here are 3 ideas to try on. Check them out;

HOLIDAY- Escape from life!

Surely, in the hustle of life you have ditched those plans to visit your dream place. What else could be interesting than completing your dream? However, if you have been lucky enough to enjoy and visit all those places in early age, planning a holiday or a road trip to your favorite spot once again is never a bad idea. While you love the place, you can relive all those moments spent here. So, it is high time to explore.

REKINDLING- Building friendship!

Sometimes it happens you feel sad and bad for those lost contact with people over the years. Isn’t it? Why not invest your free time and rekindle those relations?  And certainly, the chances are high that even those people are also in the same mindset. Get back in touch with you too and utilize the time to reunite with those people.

EXERCISING- It keeps you fit for long!

Wait, if this appears to be a chore or something unappealing, you need to know that it doesn’t mean you have to sprint. In fact, it includes a lot of activities such as walking, jogging, swimming and even gardening. While these are excellent ways to get your exercise in, these all can be really fun. And of course, you can have your partner or a friend make a routine out of it. Besides, try your hands on other forms of exercise that you were either interested earlier. Believe me, there are so many options available such as Golf, Bowls, Walking Football, etc.

So, as the hard work of your younger adult life has passed away, it is your time and choice to enjoy. The above-stated ideas will surely keep your retirement age jumping and hopping. Get up and do the things that you have dreamed of so far!

Thanksgiving Celebration Idea: Learning to Appreciate the Role of Seniors!!

So, finally thanksgiving is here. What’s your plan? Not made any? You are not late enough, as here is an amazing thing to do this year. Explore some wisdom and improve your life’s quality. Checkout how!

You might be thinking, every year the day comes when you celebrate ‘Thanksgiving’. So what is so special about this day? Well, Wikipedia says;

“It was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States”

Whatever the definition states one thing is pretty clear- it is a day to express thanks to all those who knowingly or unknowingly assisted you in one way or the other. So what are you planning to do this year?

Why Not Celebrate and Appreciate the Role of Elders?

 

Well, it can be anything. You can invite friends and family to join you around the table. Meanwhile, make sure that you seek out senior people who would otherwise eat alone. Believe it; you will love to see how many generations you can gather.

Later, you can linger over dessert, start with some healthy conversation, which usually includes memories of past holidays, amazing experiences, real stories, and funny events. Remember, while senior family members will thoroughly enjoy being a special part of the occasion, you will benefit with all they have to share, especially the wisdom they have gained over the years. So, together you can celebrate the Thanksgiving Day and elder wisdom.

Why Choosing Old People Good for Celebration?

Yes, this might be a question to strike your mind while inviting seniors to your celebration. To understand this it is very important to understand that older people always play an important role in society as they are the best advice givers. And all you need to do is to encourage the interaction among both, young people and elders.

How to Benefit from Elder’s Presence?

 

It is completely your choice, you can start either way. You can encourage the younger people to ask the seniors questions that are relevant to them. For example, a small child can ask an elder how they handled being “pick-on” as a child. On the other hand, a college student can ask a great-grandparent how they handled stressful situation or depression. Basically, such type of wisdom should be shared. Undoubtedly, it elevates the role of elders who are true life-coaches for the less experienced youth.

Alternatively, you can ask the elders to share their experiences or stories from their past. However, this is little different from asking them to share the wisdom they gained from their past experiences. But it would seriously help the younger generation.

Last note; you need to cater both the age groups benefit, as both are to benefit from this interaction.