Why it is Time to Consider a Senior Living Facility as a Better Lifestyle for Your Parents

To prepare the population for a change in the dynamic of the overall demographic of the United States, it is important to consider how senior people will be housed and cared for in the near future, starting with your parents.

Everyone wants their parents to live happy and fulfilling lives, even when they retire. Fortunately, over 21,000 senior living facilities have been reported to operate in the United States alone, meaning that there is a wide selection of accommodation for your parents to choose from, should they wish to.

What is Senior Living?

Senior living is independent living for those over the age of 55 who wish to be a part of a housing arrangement, which has been designed with their wellbeing in mind. Due to the wide variety of facilities and communities in the United States, the available housing types are not limiting.

In fact, there are a vast number of senior living facilities which offer extra leisure services such as swimming pools and golf courses. The purpose of independent living is to offer senior citizens a comfortable and rewarding life with relaxation in mind. If your parents have worked up until their retirement, they deserve to spend the rest of their years in a quiet, peaceful environment where they still feel they have purpose and opportunities to explore.

When Should Senior Living be Considered?

You may be considering senior living for your parents for a multitude of reasons. However, there are several key considerations that may indicate it is time for your parents to move into a senior living facility.

Cognitive and Motor Skills

When one ages, one is expected to have a gradual decline in cognitive abilities and motor skills. It is an unavoidable part of life. However, suppose you feel your parents are deteriorating at a fast rate or are showing early signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia. In that case, it may be the right time to consider a senior living facility so that they can receive the care and support they need.

Mobility

How efficiently can your parents move around the house? If they are still living in their forever home, which for argument’s sake has three bedrooms and a steep set of stairs, they will likely be having some difficulty moving around the house.

Additionally, it will be hard for your parents to maintain the cleanliness of the house themselves, due to the vast size of the property and the time it would take to clean every room.

If your parents are showing a loss of their mobility, it is a good option to consider a senior living facility so that they can downsize their home and move around easier.

Isolation

When people age, particularly if they are a widow and live alone, they can become isolated very quickly. Nearly one-fourth of adults over the aged of 65 are reported to be considered as socially isolated, according to a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), which is a concerning factor when considering the mental health of elderly people. If your parent is a widow, or your parents do not get out of the house or socialize with others, it can have damaging effects on their mental health by increasing the risk of dementia by 50%.

How Will it Enhance My Parent’s Lifestyle?

Senior living facilities and communities such as Frontier Management have been designed with every aspect of your parent’s wellbeing in mind; you can find out more on frontiermgmt.com. Not only will they receive the general day-to-day care they need, but they will also be given a new sense of purpose, as they have the opportunity to make new friendships and discover new hobbies.

It is a Community

There is an endless list of health benefits from socializing, including better mental health, boosted happiness, and lowered risk of dementia.

If your parents move to a senior living facility, one of the major benefits will be the opportunity to socialize and engage with like-minded people who are of a similar age and have similar interests. Many facilities offer communal outdoor and indoor areas for residents to collaborate and have meaningful interactions with one another.

Support Readily Available

According to government data, 50% of residents living in senior living facilities require assistance with dressing, two-thirds of residents with bathing, and around 20% with eating. As much as the facilities promote independent living as much as possible, it is still important that residents receive the help and support they need to maintain a certain quality of life. A great deal of facilities has nurses and medical staff available, should any resident need assistance.

You can sleep at night with the peace of mind, knowing your parents are well looked after.

A Sense of Security

When living in a residential facility, elderly people do not need to worry about the chances of being disturbed in the middle of the night by an intruder, as residential facilities provide a high level of security. When your parents have less to worry about, the less stressed they will feel.

Active Lifestyle

Keeping fit and healthy is an important aspect of life, even when you are elderly. Whether your parents walk around more or attend swimming classes once a week, having added routine in their lives will boost their health and give them things to look forward to, to help break up their week.

New Beginnings

Most importantly of all, senior living facilities offer elderly citizens the chance of a new beginning and a fresh start. Just being in a different environment, surrounded by new faces, will help give your parents a new sense of life.

Your parents will be given the best opportunity to thrive in a residential community, so why not sit down and talk to them about senior living today!