The Sunrise Blog

Ask most older adults and they’ll say they’d like to age in place in their own home. According to research from AARP, 88 percent of adults say aging at home is their preference. Many seniors have paid off their mortgage and believe staying put is a financially sound decision. Because many seniors have lived in the same home for decades, it’s a place that represents familiarity and comfort.

One uncertainty adult children may find themselves grappling with is how to tell when the time is “right” for a parent to move to assisted living. Because assisted living communities offer so many benefits that improve residents’ mental and physical well-being, there might be a better question to ask. That question is: Will a senior loved one enjoy a better quality of life if they make a move now?

Summer is a great season for people to visit assisted living communities. There is ample time to explore your options, make an informed choice, and move in before the snow begins to fly. For adult children, having a parent settled before winter brings peace of mind. But what can you do if a senior loved one is anxious about making such a big transition? How can you encourage them that it’s time for a change?

Alzheimer’s, and other forms of dementia, impact the entire family. When a senior loved one is diagnosed with a condition that causes memory impairment, it can take patience and understanding to keep them safe and engaged. Alzheimer’s and other related diseases often cause changes ranging from difficulty with abstract thought to agitation and anxiety. One challenge many families experience is that the person living with the disease doesn’t realize anything is wrong with them.

When a family elder needs more help or has been diagnosed with a chronic illness, loved ones often debate which senior care option is best. For some, working with a home care agency seems like the best solution. Other families believe the intermittent needs of their loved one are best met by moving to an assisted living community.

If you or an older adult in your family is preparing to move to a senior living community, you might feel a little uncertain about which staff member can provide answers to the various questions you have. This is true before you move, as well as after. It’s easy to confuse the different roles people play in a community designed for senior care.

Where you live matters as you grow older. While the majority of older adults say they’d like to remain in their own homes, few houses were designed with senior safety in mind. A 2017 Harvard University study found that only 1 percent of American homes were equipped with basic universal design features that make a home accessible and senior-friendly.