(443) 745-6115If you have aging parents and the physical space necessary to house and care for them late in their lives, it may be tempting to offer them the ability to age in place rather than transfer to an assisted living facility. Perhaps you are concerned for their comfort and are nervous about placing them in an environment that is unfamiliar to them. Or maybe you have recently retired and feel that you have enough free time and energy to devote to their needs.
No matter the justification, it is typically best for the well-being of both you and your aging loved one to find a professional care facility close to home that offers specialized care and a comfortable, relaxing environment.
How Do You Know When Full-Time Care is Required?
As we age, many tasks that used to seem simple become much tougher to handle. Our physical strength declines, our health is more easily compromised, and our reliance on medical treatment increases. There are plenty of aging adults who have been proactive in staying as healthy and capable as possible, but these folks aren’t typically the ones who require full-time care.
The most common signs that point to a need for consistent supervision and/or care are:
- Worsening health or medical conditions
- Inability to keep up with financial responsibilities
- A disorderly or unhealthy living space
- Increased isolation
- Presence of depression or addiction
- Lack of motivation
- Poor hygiene
- Frailty
The Difficulties in Taking Over Full-Time Care
Adult children and close relatives of elderly adults will commonly assume the care of their loved one(s) to avoid placing them in an assisted living facility, only to realize that they severely underestimated their abilities in handling the responsibilities required of a full-time caregiver. This can cause undue stress and make it more difficult to provide a calm and peaceful environment for your aging loved one.
Taking over full-time care can be an especially stressful task for family members of those aging adults who have rapidly declining physical or mental health issues. It can be near impossible to understand and attend to your loved one’s needs if they suffer from symptoms like dementia and do not have the ability to easily communicate those needs to you. Additionally, certain medications may not be as easy to acquire from home, and unless you are trained in CPR and other emergency life-saving procedures, your loved one might be at a higher risk of health complications if they are living outside of a specialized facility.
The Benefits of an Assisted Living Facility
Fortunately for children and other relatives who want to ensure proper care for their aging parents or loved ones, assisted living facilities exist to not only provide a comfortable, relaxing, and safe setting for seniors with a variety of needs, but also to offer medical care and plan activities that will help elderly adults maintain their quality of life while living away from home.
The key advantages of these facilities include:
- A large staff of specially trained, live-in caregivers
- Medical professionals that provide wellness check-ups, administer medication, and plan treatment regimens
- 24-hour care, day and night
- Scheduled activities like social outings and skill-improvement classes
- Comfortable and private residences
- Mobility equipment for those with physical disabilities
- Home-cooked meals that can be customized to fit personal dietary requirements
- Laundry and housekeeping services
- Physical therapy and counseling services
You’re Not Alone – We Can Help!
Caring for an aging family member can be overwhelming, as it often takes consistent and specialized care in order to maintain their quality of life. The professional medical staff and caregivers at Kenwood Care understand that this can be a heavy task to take on by yourself, and we are here to help by providing exceptional assisted living, palliative, and dementia care in Maryland at all four of our Howard County facilities. Contact us today for more information.
