It is time to ask for help. However, the big question is “WHERE DO I START?”

For many reasons, people move to assisted living communities because they can no longer take care of themselves or you can no longer be the primary caregiver for your loved one(s).

It is rare that you woke up this morning wanting to move your loved one(s) into an Assisted Living Community out of the blue. Most people started the search because they noticed their loved one(s) forgetting to take their medications, starting to experience falls, becoming more and more dependent on others to help them on a daily basis. Perhaps you are experiencing the same thing. It is not uncommon that we see family members acting as the primary caregiver. If you are a primary caregiver and reading this, chances are you don’t want to or you simply can no longer do “this” anymore. That is understandable.

Most of us don’t wake up in the morning looking forward to brushing our teeth, taking a shower, or using the bathroom. These are essential daily activities that we have to do in order to go on about our days. The point is that when seniors age and start requiring help on a daily basis, they still want fulfillment. They look forward to spending time with family and friends. They look forward to reading the news while having a cup of coffee.

The reality is that how you spend time with your loved one(s) have changed. Most of your days now consist of waking them up, taking them to the bathroom, dressing them, feeding them, and perhaps worrying about their medication and well-being at work. All these combined can take a toll on you.

The ultimate goal is to get your time back and gain peace of mind. Depending on the circumstance, you may seek a specific type of care to effectively meet your loved one(s)’ needs. However, if your loved one(s) can no longer stay in their house alone or they have no help around, you might want to consider moving them to an Assisted Living Community.

The benefit of an Assisted Living Community is to help you reclaim your precious time that you could’ve spent with your loved one(s). Ultimately you can once again be the daughter or son that you enjoy being and doing things that are more fulfilling.

An Assisted Living Community offers room and board, around the clock care seven(7) days a week, the assistance of activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting, and continence. Most communities offer socialization programs to enhance residents’ mental health.