Spot the Signs: Is It Time for a Loved One to Move to Senior Living
Even when a person is living independently at home, there are often aspects of their life that could be easier, with less stress and worry, as well as enhancing safety and security. In addition, choosing the right lifestyle also provides a sound plan for the future. If this sounds like something a senior in your life could benefit from, it might be time for senior living.
Live well, live better: Is it time for senior living?
More and more seniors are discovering that an independent senior living community is an invitation to explore life’s possibilities as never before. Here are some signs to look for to help distinguish if an older person in your life would enjoy a higher quality of life in a retirement community in St. Charles County.
• They’re not getting out anymore. Grandchildren’s soccer games, shopping, special events, church socials—they are missing more and more events. It could be due to changes in vision, anxiety over driving at night, or they might have become confused or turned around one time and now are tentative about going on their own. Perhaps their neighborhood has changed and there’s nothing close by that holds their interest anymore.
Living in an independent living community in St. Charles County gives them the benefit of scheduled transportation to shopping, special outings, scenic drives, holiday events and more. Your loved one can enjoy the company and security of being in a friendly group without the worries or expenses of driving and maintaining a car. In addition, many senior living communities are located in vibrant, interesting areas filled with opportunities for social connections. For example, living at Avalon Park puts you close to downtown Cottleville and a myriad of shopping, dining, and recreational opportunities.
• They stay by themselves too much. When an older adults begins to withdraw from regular activities and social contacts, it can be a warning sign that something else is going on and it might be time for senior living. Being alone and isolated from others can be quite harmful to a person’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Even if a person just perceives they are lonely and left out of the mainstream, it can be dangerous and increase the risk of dementia, depression and anxiety. It’s possible your loved one doesn’t even realize they are doing this, or it’s also possible they are avoiding others because they no longer feel comfortable in a group.
Healthy socializing is what modern senior living is all about, especially when you are looking at independent living in St. Charles County. Right outside each resident’s door is an open invitation to mingle with friends, neighbors, family and staff. Parties. Classes. Concerts. Hobbies. Happy hours. Yoga. Outdoor barbecues. Book clubs. Walking trails. You name the activity, and it’s probably on the calendar—or you can request to add it!
• They don’t seem to be eating regularly. Living at home, an older adult can struggle to maintain a nutritious diet for many reasons. It can feel lonely to cook for one, or to get to the market. Cooking can be difficult or even dangerous. If you visit your loved one and notice too much spoiled food in the refrigerator, too little food in the pantry, or signs of a stove fire or accident, it’s quite possible things aren’t going as well as they should and it might be time for senior living.
One of the best benefits of a senior living community is the array of dining choices residents have at their fingertips. An elegant meal served tableside. Grab-and-go convenience from an onsite café or deli. Often the choice of dining outdoors. And always a friend around for company to make everything taste even better. Plus, expert attention paid to nutrition and flavor by a professional chef and staff. Dining should be a pleasure, and in the right setting, it can be again.
• They are not keeping up with housework or home maintenance. It’s perfectly natural for an older adult to grow weary of all the obligations that come with living in a home: keeping the yard neat, repairing the gutters, patching the roof, painting shutters, sweeping the patio, dusting the furniture, mopping the floors—whew! And that’s only a small part of the list. So, if you should be visiting a parent or loved one and notice that things seem a bit askew, you might pay attention to whether it’s just due to boredom, or perhaps a physical issue such as changes in vision or balance.
If it does turn out that they are just ready to live a carefree life, you can give them the good news: in a senior living community such as Avalon Park, they can sit back, relax, and let someone else handle it all! This is the best in independent living in St. Charles County: no chores, no stress, no worries. Just easy living!
Everything you need to live well and live better.
When it’s time to put down the to-do list and start enjoying each day with new anticipation and fulfillment, it could be time for senior living…especially when it’s a community that can offer the location, companionship, and attention to detail that enhances quality of life. At Avalon Park, we invite you to learn more.
Be excited about your future! We’d love to meet you.
Contact us today to set up your personalized tour. Learn how a move to senior living can give you the lifestyle you deserve – download our guide, Choosing the Right Community.
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