Signs Your Aging Parent Might Need Assisted Living

Your parents have always been your support system, but they might start leaning on you for some caregiving tasks as they age. When the roles begin to change, it’s your job to recognize the signs an aging parent needs assisted living. Getting them to admit they need support on their own might be a challenge.

It’s not uncommon for seniors to want to maintain their independence and sense of control for as long as possible. In this scenario, downplaying issues or hiding insecurities is common. It can sometimes take an accident or sudden health decline to make it obvious they need more help than they are asking for.

So, as an adult child, what can you do to help your aging parents? By making yourself aware of the signs an aging parent needs assisted living, you can be better prepared to find a higher level of care when the time comes. When spending time with your parents, be sure to look for the following signs they might be struggling:

1. Difficulty performing activities of daily living – One clear sign that your aging parent might need assisted living is when you notice them struggling with routine activities like dressing, bathing, walking or eating. If you see your loved one neglecting their hygiene, it could be a sign they need a higher level of care.
2. Changes in behavior – If you’re used to your loved one behaving a certain way, it could be a red flag if their mental status changes quickly. Pay attention to things like losing interest in hobbies, difficulty keeping track of time, showing a lack of motivation or changes in mood or sleep patterns. These behavioral changes could indicate that you need to consider a senior living community.
3. Changes in physical appearance – If you often spend time with your parent, it can be challenging to spot subtle changes in appearance. However, if you start to notice unusual bruising, wounds, weight loss or poor hygiene, this could indicate that your loved one needs the support of a senior living community.
4. Neglecting responsibilities – When it comes to signs an aging parent needs assisted living, neglecting responsibilities is a big one. Managing a household can be difficult for aging family members. When you start to notice signs of hoarding, unopened mail, unpaid bills or spoiled food piling up, it could be signs of a bigger problem.
5. Changes in memory – Since age-related memory decline is typical, you must pay attention to any unusual memory changes. If you notice frequent forgetfulness, increased confusion, repetitive speech patterns, loss of reasoning or poor judgment, it might be time to have a conversation about assisted living.

Talking to Your Loved One About Senior Living Communities

Broaching the subject of senior living with your parent can be challenging, so it’s important to do your research and approach it carefully. The goal is to highlight the benefits of an assisted living community rather than making it feel like a loss of independence. Quality senior living communities are designed to help seniors stay active and thrive independently for longer.

Walnut Place combines privacy with assistance in the activities of daily living anytime your loved one needs it, plus a rich community life. Our senior living community provides the right level of care to improve the quality of life.

Assisted Living That Feels Like Home at Walnut Place in North Dallas, TX

Unlike most assisted living communities near Dallas, Walnut Place fosters an atmosphere of fellowship, camaraderie and genuine connections. Aside from our reputation, this truly sets our assisted living in North Dallas apart from other assisted living communities. We provide support with medication management, bathing, dressing and more.

As soon as you notice signs your aging parent might need assisted living, we encourage you to schedule a tour of our assisted living community in North Dallas, Texas. Contact us to learn more.