Recognizing the Signs: It's Time for Assisted Living Community Care

According to Indiana University Indianapolis, an estimated 24,000 adults in Central Indiana, which includes New Castle, turn 55 annually. Another 22,000 hit the age of 60, also yearly. Furthermore, about a third of these older adults feel lonely and isolated.

If you have an older family member who's now in the same boat, there's no better time than now to assess their situation. Doing so can help you determine if transitioning to an assisted living community in New Castle, IN, will benefit them better than living at home.

In this guide that the team at Addison Place created, we'll discuss the signs for assisted living considerations and how moving to senior living can benefit your loved one. So please read on, as every moment counts now that your loved one is in their golden years.

They Have a Medical Condition and Live Alone

According to the National Council on Aging, almost 95% of adults in their 60s have at least one chronic health condition. Nearly eight in 10 have at least two. Some of the most common ones include:

• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Arthritis
• Obesity
• Heart disease
• Diabetes

If your loved one has one or more of those conditions and also lives alone, please know they are common assisted care indicators signaling the need for senior living transition. While having less-than-stellar health doesn't automatically mean your family member needs assistance, living alone may increase their health and safety risk.

For example, health problems like heart disease and diabetes may cause dizziness. When someone feels lightheaded, they're at risk of slipping, tripping, and falling, which are already top concerns for seniors. Falls can be more dangerous to older adults since aging bones become more brittle and more susceptible to breaking.

So, for your loved one's safety and your mental well-being, too, please consider speaking to them about moving to an assisted living community. Tell them that these communities have compassionate care providers who are always ready to help them when they need a hand.

They Take Multiple Medications

Since many older adults have chronic health conditions, many also rely on multiple medications. Indeed, a post by Johns Hopkins Medicine noted that, per the U.S. CDC, around one in three U.S. adults between 60 and 70 take five or more prescription medicines regularly!

While medications can be helpful, they can only benefit people if taken as directed. However, that's not always the case, especially among older adults, who may forget to take them on time. In some cases, seniors relying on multiple medicines may also make mistakes and confuse one for another.

If your older family member takes multiple medicines and has had a few incidents of medication errors, it may be safer for them to move to an assisted living community. At Addington Place, we can help them through medication management services. Our experienced care staff can assist with medication reminders, administration, and safety.

They Need Extra Help With ADLs

ADLs stand for activities of daily living. There are two types: basic ADLs (BADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs).

BADLs are skills necessary to manage a person's physical needs, including:

• Ambulating, including walking and moving from one position to another
• Feeding oneself
• Personal hygiene, including bathing, grooming, and maintaining oral, nail, and hair health
• Continence, or the ability to control one's bladder and bowel functions
• Toileting, including going to and from the toilet, using it correctly, and cleaning oneself afterward
• Dressing, or the ability to choose appropriate clothes and put them on

IADLs are skills that require more complex thinking and physical skills. Some examples are medication management and:

• Meal preparation
• Transportation and shopping
• Housekeeping and home maintenance
• Managing finances
• Managing and maintaining communication with others

Many older adults need help for at least one of those ADLs, and assisted living communities specialize in providing this assistance. Whether your older loved one requires help with one or more BADLs or IADLs, rest assured that the caring and compassionate staff at Addington Place will provide them with the personalized care and support they need.

They Don't Socialize as Much

Another sign it's time to speak with your loved one about transitioning to senior living is if they're showing indications of loneliness, social isolation, or both. Although not everyone who lives alone may experience these, older adults are at a higher risk because many of them live alone and may also have lost or lack connections with others.

Social isolation and loneliness can be harmful to anyone who experiences them, but even more so for adults whose health may already be in decline. According to the U.S. CDC, recent studies have shown an association between them and an increased risk for:

• Dementia
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Depression and anxiety
• Hospitalization
• Emergency department visits

Even if your loved one can still look after themselves in general (for example, they rarely ask for help with ADLs), they can still benefit from being in the company of other people their age and compassionate care providers, especially if they live alone. They'll also have access to many senior-centered amenities and services. For example, at Addison Place in New Castle, IN, our residents can enjoy:

• A full calendar of daily social, recreational, and physical activities
• Community events, like resident birthday parties and excursions
• Wellness programs
• Pet therapy
• Social dining and outings to restaurants
• Well-maintained outdoor spaces for more socialization, relaxation, and vitamin D absorption

There's a long list of social things to do here at Addison Place, which can help make your loved one feel more connected and have a sense of belonging.

Addison Place: New Castle's Best Assisted Living Community

We hope the information we shared here can guide you in making a more educated assisted living decision with your elderly family member.

Then, once you and your loved one are ready to explore a highly-rated assisted living community in New Castle, IN, where residents thrive in their golden years, connect with us here at Addison Place. We'll be happy to give you a tour and show you what makes us the best choice for exceptional senior living in the area.