The decision to move oneself or a loved one into an assisted living facility is a big decision. For some, the thought of moving into a community of peers and relinquishing the need to prepare meals and do housework sounds wonderful! To others, the fear of letting go of the familiar and potentially losing their independence is disconcerting. For some families, the decision is easy and necessary – for others, the decision is made with much angst and emotion. Understanding the need for assisted living is sometimes made easier by learning about ADLs – activities of daily living – and assessing the senior’s capabilities in these areas.
Activities of daily living refer to the basic yet essential skills needed for daily life. An assessment of ADLs will indicate the senior’s capability to care for themselves without outside assistance.
- Ambulating: These ADLs include the ability to walk, sit, stand, lie down, and get up on one’s own, as well as climb up and down any stairs.
- Toileting: These activities involve controlling the bladder and bowels (continence), using the toilet independently, and cleaning oneself appropriately.
- Grooming: These activities include maintaining personal hygiene, such as brushing teeth, shaving, bathing, and hair care.
- Dressing: These ADLs involve dressing oneself properly and navigating buttons and zippers.
- Eating: These activities include feeding oneself with appropriate cutlery.
It is estimated that 20% of seniors over the age of 85 require assistance with activities of daily living.
If Your Loved One Cannot Perform ADLs
If an older adult is living alone in their own home, family members may not be aware that their loved one is beginning to lose some essential abilities. If you are visiting your elderly family member and notice that the house is unkempt, the yard is neglected, there is little to no food in the refrigerator, or clothes are soiled – this is an indication that they may be in need of assistance. Talk to them about any concerns you may have, but be prepared that they may be resistant to your concern or suggestions. Remind them that you care about them and simply want them to have the best quality of life.
If you are concerned, there are several ways you can proceed:
- Speak to their primary care doctor or other healthcare providers, and ask about anything you should know about their physical and mental health.
- Based on the evaluation of their medical team, consider ways you can remove some challenges from their daily life and increase the safety of their environment. You may bring them fully prepared meals, hire a housekeeper, remove any rugs or obstacles to keep hallways clear or install grab bars in the bathroom.
- Look into hiring a part-time or full-time caregiver, depending on the circumstances and the level of assistance that is required.
- Begin discussions about moving to an appropriate senior living residence if the challenges of living alone are not easily solved.
Assisted Living as a Solution
Sometimes, it is not feasible or safe for your elderly loved one to continue living alone. In many cases, they can still function independently in several areas but need assistance in others. For instance, they may keep their apartment clean and be able to care for their own hygiene but neglect to eat regularly. Assisted living facilities provide the professional care and supervision seniors may need while allowing them to enjoy freedom and independence in the areas they are still capable of.
The staff at assisted living will prepare nutritious meals and ensure your loved one is eating, help with medication management, perform basic housekeeping and laundry services, and encourage your loved one to socialize and remain engaged with others. These communities step in where they are needed yet encourage self-sufficiency where they are not. If you believe that assisted living may be the ideal solution for you or a loved one but don’t know where to begin, call My Care Finders right away.
My Care Finders is a FREE service that helps
