When to Move to a Seniors Home: The Not So Obvious Signs

 “Mom needs to move to a seniors home.”

We’ve all heard this line before. It is no secret that with age comes declining health – it’s inevitable. While you may be weaker, have declining vision or hearing and not be as stable on your feet as you once were, chances are you have done an amazing job of countering these natural signs of aging.

From grab rails to hearing aids and compression stockings, you have been resourceful and
diligent in caring for yourself. While you feel you can still manage many aspects of your care, there may be a little bit of doubt creeping in.

“Mary sold her house and had to move to a seniors home. She had that bad fall in the spring and it wasn’t safe for her to live alone.”

Am I safe? You may think to yourself. What if I fall?

While some seniors experience a crisis that forces them out of their home, some seniors prepare and plan their next move to a seniors home in advance.

Advanced planning involves considering options, such as a seniors apartment,  assisted living or long-term care, as your health gradually declines. But at what point do you make the “official call” to move?

Here are some obvious and not so obvious signs that you should start to consider a move to a seniors home.

Let’s look at it from the traffic light perspective – Red, Yellow and Green.

Red: You know these signs – they are obvious:

1. You are falling or injuring yourself in your home.
2. You are getting lost and forgetting the way.
3. You aren’t taking prescribed medications or supplements.
4. You have chronic health problems that are getting worse.
5. You are often in pain.
6. You no longer feel physical able to leave the house, even if you wanted to.

Yellow: The somewhat obvious signs.

1. You are becoming increasingly frail – your weight is changing and you feel weak and have low energy.
2. Your personal grooming habits have been slipping – you rarely go to get your hair done like you used to.
3. It is taking you longer to recover after you are sick or injured – that last flu kept you in bed for 2 weeks!
4. Keeping up your activities of daily living (grooming, cooking, cleaning) is becoming more difficult – but you are finding work arounds, like freezer meals and wearing the same outfit to avoid doing laundry.

Green: The not so obvious signs.

1. You’ve gone days without leaving your house – but you will be at church on Sunday.
2. There is a pile of mail that you haven’t opened – but you’ll get to it later.
3. You are still driving – but it makes you a bit anxious.
4. You love your cat – but some days you forget to feed her.
5. You recently lost a loved one – but you are coping.
6. You are eating every day – but a piece of toast is considered a full meal.

There are many great reasons to move to a seniors retirement home. Ultimately, the decision about when to move is yours. What is most important is that you feel safe and well cared for, whether that be caring for yourself or having help.

If you are unsure, ask yourself these questions: Do you want easier access to recreational and social activities? Do you want to live near others your age? Do you want help to meet your personal care needs? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be ready to consider a move to a seniors home of sorts.

Surge Senior Solutions exists to help make your next transition an easy one. Call us today to discuss and explore potential senior home options and moving services in Sarnia Lambton.