Sometimes Your Seniors Just Have to Leave Their Home

 My gerontologist friend, Karen Everett Watson has studied the elderly for years and has come up with many solutions for families faced with an aging senior.  See what she says below about knowing when it is time for your senior to leave their own residential home…..

Aileen Brazeau

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 Leaving a home you've enjoyed for years is a very hard thing to do but sometimes a move is a lifesaver, especially for older folks. My interviews with seniors who've made the choice to live in a senior community gave me an appreciation for their decisions. Most had all planned earlier in life to "age-in-place" but what if your "place" is just not right for you?

 Is your neighborhood changing and your friends moving on?

Many seniors find themselves in a changing environment, even though they haven't changed their own address, people move and sometimes pass away. Younger people move in who work during the day, leaving the neighborhood lonely for seniors who've counted on their neighbors for company. One senior I interviewed said her neighborhood had become a "desert" for company.

 Is your house becoming too much for you?

If you've lived in the same place for decades, perhaps you're finding the maintenance on your home just too much to handle. Older homes take more maintenance with each year that passes. As men often pass before their wives, these now single women are finding home maintenance to be more than they want to handle. Two-story homes become a problem when elders suffer from mobility issues.

 Do you need more help because of health issues?

Many seniors wait until they suffer a serious health problem before deciding on a move to a senior community. If you ask the ones who've went through this, they'll tell you "don't wait." Once a senior settles into an assisted living or senior community, they find their life improves greatly. They have more opportunities to keep busy with exercise classes, hobby classes, and new friends to spend time with. One senior told me, "I never knew life could be so good in my 80's." Her family now has to make an appointment with her to visit. She's busy all the time.

 Before the move, she was lonely and isolated. Both of these conditions are dangerous especially for older folks while senior communities such as San Clemente Villas by the Sea, offer engaging activities where seniors can make the most of their lives. They look forward to getting out, eating with the friends, exercising and engaging in the hobbies they love. Who wouldn't want to exercise in a beautiful heated pool?

 Assisted living also makes sure that medications are taken correctly.

Dining is often done in the common room where nutritious meals are enjoyed with fellow residents, or visiting family members. Housekeeping and laundry can be too much for some elders, but in an assisted living, you don't have to worry – there's help! 

So don't hang on to an outdated idea, if you're finding life in the old neighborhood not what it used to be. Check out the senior communities in your locality. Most of them will offer you a free meal to tour their accommodations. Knowing what's available and meeting the residents will give you a better idea of where you might like to live. Don't wait until you have to settle for whatever is available. Take control and enjoy the process of finding the perfect senior community! 

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See what I mean about Karen? She always has her finger right on the pulse of the most modern tactics for supporting our seniors! Check back here often to see both Karen’s and my suggestions on how to ensure the best care for your beloved seniors.

Aileen Brazeau, co-owner, San Clemente Villas by the Sea.

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