When You Should Consider a Change in Your Parent’s Living Situation

Helping your aging parent, grandparent, or loved one as they age involves many aspects of ensuring that they are getting the physical and mental care that they need on a regular basis. For some, this is a relatively simple process in that there are clear signs and definitive advice from healthcare professionals that it is time to make a change and increase the level of care that your loved one is receiving. However, there are times when navigating such waters isn’t so simple.

Perhaps your loved one is able to cope with the level of care they are getting to a certain degree, but things are starting to become a bit more difficult. Maybe they are reluctant to consider changes at all, making you feel hesitant to bring up the subject in general.

Regardless of what your particular situation may be, there is nothing more important than the health, safety, and comfort of your parent or other aging loved one. This means that you need to be completely aware of how well they are doing in their current situation as well as the signs that it is time to make a change.

If you aren’t entirely sure about what signs you should be on the lookout for that something needs to change, here are a few ways that you can know it is time to consider a change in your parent’s living situation.

Medical Reasons

One of the driving factors behind transitioning a loved one or parent to a different sort of living situation involves their health. Whether it is their physical health or their mental health that has taken a turn for the worse, you should be aware of any such changes that will require more care going forward.

If the care that your parent needs is related to their physical health, you will need to assess the level of help they need. This should be done with the guidance and assistance of their primary care physician. It might very well be time to consider a St. Louis nursing home for your loved one. This will provide them with round-the-clock medical attention for a chronic condition.

Aside from physical health, your parent’s mental health might be a major factor in how you proceed. For instance, there are memory care facilities that are designed for seniors dealing with dementia and other mental health conditions that are common in the elderly.

Self-Neglect

Another indicator that it is time to consider a change in your parent’s living situation involves their ability to take care of themselves. Many seniors struggle to take care of things like doing the laundry or regularly washing as they age. If you are starting to see signs of self-neglect either to their person or their home, it is time to look into changing things.

Pay attention to everything from the cleanliness of their clothes to the state of their yard and garden. Neglect in these areas can all indicate that a change is necessary.