Signs Your Aging Parent Might Need Assisted Living

June 6, 2022

It can sometimes be challenging to watch your parents age as an adult child. They’ve always been your support system, and now the roles are changing. Recognizing the signs an aging parent needs assisted living or getting them to admit they need additional help can be difficult.

Seniors want to maintain their independence for as long as possible and may downplay their symptoms. As a caregiver, it’s your job to make yourself aware of the common signs an aging parent needs assisted living, so you can be better prepared to find a higher level of care if or when the time comes. It’s never a good idea to wait until an accident or illness occurs to seek support for your loved one. Instead, look for these common signs that they might need additional help:

1. Difficulty performing activities of daily living – One of the easiest things to notice is if your family member is struggling with things like dressing, bathing, walking or eating. If you spend even a few hours together, you might see some signs they are neglecting their hygiene, which could be a sign they need a higher level of care.
2. Changes in behavior – If you’re lucky enough to spend a lot of time with your parents, you’ll  most likely notice any changes in their behavior. Pay attention to things like losing interest in hobbies, challenges keeping track of time, lacking motivation, or changes in their mood or sleep patterns. Any behavioral changes could be signs your aging parent needs assisted living.
3. Changes in physical appearance – Changes in your loved one’s physical appearance could be a sign they aren’t taking care of themselves as well on their own. Look for weight loss, unexpected bruising, poor hygiene, stained clothing or unbrushed hair. If you notice any changes, it could be a sign your loved one needs support with activities of daily living.
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 – Age-related memory decline is common. However, it could indicate a more significant issue when forgetfulness increases or you notice things like confusion, repetitive speech patterns, loss of reasoning or poor judgment.

Talking to Your Loved One About Senior Living Communities

Change is never easy. When talking with your loved one about senior living communities, presenting all the facts is essential. You never want to make your parents feel like they’ll be losing their independence. Instead, you want to focus on how senior care and senior living communities can support their needs while helping them stay active and independent for as long as possible.

Monticello West offers a caring team to help your loved one maintain the highest level of independence possible. From assistance with personal grooming and bathing to meal and medication reminders, we offer 24/7 assisted living care services to support your aging parent.

Assisted Living That Feels Like Home at Monticello West in Dallas, TX

When you notice signs your aging parent needs assisted living, consider Monticello West. Our premier assisted living community in Dallas is a great option to get the support your loved one needs with the activities of daily living while still maintaining the highest level of independence. Our goal is to help residents thrive in an environment that is supportive and life-enriching.

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