How Do You Know When It’s Time?

Lynn Paxson, Owner

Presented By Oasis Senior Advisors

Unfortunately, in our society people often don’t want to address the challenges of aging until there is absolutely no other choice. This is not the best approach. I strongly advise you to be proactive. Become educated about the senior care options that are available to your loved one well before they need them.

How do you know when it’s time to do something? If you live near Mom and Dad, it’s certainly easier to know than if you live at a distance and only see them occasionally. Aging seniors tend to wear their pride on their sleeve, and they’ll do whatever they can to hide their frailties from you. Oftentimes they’re in complete denial about their challenges. Pay close attention when you talk to them or visit. Here are some signs that it’s time to consider bringing in home healthcare and/or looking at senior living communities. I often suggest looking at both.

Loss of driver’s license. We all wait too long to take Mom or Dad’s driver’s license away! This is such a difficult and important subject because your loved one is not only endangering themselves, but also the other drivers on the road. It becomes much easier to ask them to stop driving if you can offer a viable solution such as having a caregiver who drives or a senior living community that provides transportation.

Frequent falls. If your loved one is having balance issues and is not consistently using their walker or other device, you need to know they are an accident waiting to happen! When an elderly person falls, it can often mark the beginning of a decline. Please do everything in your power to obtain assistance in the home or move them to a senior living community before a really bad fall happens! If they have a history of falls or 911 has been called recently, it’s time to do something!

Isolation causing loneliness and possibly depression. This topic is so important, I have written entire articles on it. Numerous studies have shown that socialization and stimulation are the keys to healthy aging. Moving to a senior living community is often the best solution to combat loneliness.

Drastic weight loss. Many older adults no longer have the stamina or cognitive processing skills required to cook and clean up or the ability to get out to get to the store. 

Inconsistent, or lack of compliance taking medications. This is a really big deal!

Increased forgetfulness or confusion. This is when it becomes critical to have a caregiver looking out for your loved one, either in the home or at a senior living community.

You are spending an inordinate amount of time caring for your loved one. Not only does this add to your stress but it also has an impact on your health that should not be ignored. Look for alternative options that allow you to resume your role as the child.

Remember you don’t have to go it alone. There are plenty of local resources including Certified Senior Advisors® (CSAs) such as myself who are here to help.

As the number of seniors grows faster than other segments of the population, the need for compassionate, high-quality living options becomes more important than ever. Oasis Senior Advisors Delaware offers seniors and their families a trusted and knowledgeable guide to help them navigate the choices and find the one that’s right for their lifestyle, budget, preferences, and care needs. Our compassionate team of advisors provides older adults in our community the opportunity to have a happier and healthier future. We personalize our services to your needs.

Interested in learning more about Oasis Senior Advisors’ approach to finding the right option and care for your loved one? Visit www.delaware.oasissenioradvisors.com.

Bio

Lynn Paxson is the owner of Oasis Senior Advisors Delaware which provides a free placement service for seniors and their families. Helping seniors’ transition from home to assisted living, memory care or supportive independent living communities. We do this by meeting with the seniors and their families to determine their medical, financial, geographical and lifestyle needs. It is her mission to promote successful aging by bringing older adults and resources together, thus achieving an improvement in their lives and leaving a positive mark on society. Lynn has a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) designation.

Testimonial

I was recommended to contact Oasis Senior Advisors to help in finding the right facility for my wife. I contacted Lynn Paxson and this was my best decision in securing help to care for my wife. Lynn worked diligently on my behalf in finding the perfect facility.” ~ Peter L.