Author: csl

As our loved ones get older they can continue living at home and in their communities instead of moving into specific senior living facilities. This is what is commonly referred to as “aging in place”.

While aging in place often seems like the easiest option, it might not be the most viable or safe choice in the long run. Here are some reasons why aging in place isn’t always the best option for older adults:

Disadvantages to Aging in Place

1.Missing Out on Quality Health Care

Many older adults who don’t receive some type of support or professional care can find it difficult to provide such care for themselves day in and day out. Specialized senior care faciliteis can offer many benefits to senior citizens, including skilled nusing, memory care, personal care, and more.

2.Security

Living alone can present security issues for anyone, but it can leave older adults especially vulnerable. It is unfortunate that criminals of various kinds may prey on seniors and take advantage of them when they live alone.

This is true in the case of physical crimes like burglary, but also in other ways like scams on the internet. Senior individuals are often victimized by scammers when dealing with online transactions like paying utilities, rent/mortgage, shopping, and even phone bills.

Community living in a senior care long-term residence can alleviate many safety concerns. Senior living residents will be confident they are living in a secure community, and they won’t have as many expenses to keep track of.

3. Household Chores

It’s often hard for older adults to complete chores like laundry, house cleaning, yard work, and even grocery shopping. These chores can be labor and time-intensive, causing unneeded stress and exertion for seniors who should be relaxing and enjoying retirement. Some older adults may hire house cleaners and gardeners, but this gives them, even more, to keep track of and pay for. Fortunately, living in a senior community setting provides older adults with everything they need, like housekeeping, meal plans, and transportation.

4. Hygiene and Personal Care

Everyday things like bathing, dressing, and grooming can also be difficult for older adults living by themselves. They can consider hiring a trained aide, but the cost for that may be more than they can afford. On the other hand, life in a senior living community allows older adults to choose the living option that works best for them, including those that provide help with bathing, dressing, and more.

Healthy and Regular Meals

When older individuals live by themselves, even something as commonplace as cooking can become difficult to manage. Sometimes, seniors will skip meals due to the effort needed to prepare them. Aging comes with challenges such as limited energy to carry out most daily living activities like cooking, getting groceries, and more. This is all the more reason that older adults need to eat a healthy, balanced diet every single day. Luckily, senior living communities offer meal and dining plans that provide residents with delicious, healthy options every day.

At Celebrate Senior Living, we are committed to celebrating the moments, victories, and memories that will last a lifetime for our residents and their loved ones. An assisted living community has many benefits for individuals and helping them with their every day life. Celebrate Senior Living facilities provide seniors their own space while maintaining a friendly community atmosphere of older adults. We are a Midwest-based foundation that serves Illinois and Indiana with a variety of medical, social, and personal care services in comfortable residential environments, including memory care, independent care and assisted living.

Explore one of our three senior living and retirement communities and select the location that fits your individual health, behavioral, and social needs.

• Celebrate South Holland
• Celebrate Niles
• Celebrate Fort Wayne

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about the senior living housing options we can offer, contact Celebrate Senior Living.

As we age, it can be difficult to admit when we could use a helping hand. Whether you or a loved one are no longer able to live independently, there are several different programs for seniors living alone to consider. There are many senior living options that provide a variety of support and healthcare based on the individual’s needs, so finding the perfect support specific to you is simpler than ever. Explore the various types of living options for seniors, all available at Celebrate Senior Living:

1. Independent Living

For seniors who want to maintain their independence, but could use help keeping up on chores and smaller things, this is the option for you. Independent living communities are a great way to eliminate home maintenance responsibilities while keeping up an active social life. These retirement communities typically offer condo-style housing with repairs and upkeep handled by the facility. 

Independent senior living typically offers housekeeping services and restaurant-style dining as well! The best retirement communities offer both on-site recreational activities and transportation to off-site entertainment, providing endless opportunities to continue the lifestyle you love. This senior living option is especially good for seniors who currently live alone and want to remain independent but avoid the loneliness and isolation that can come with age.

2. Assisted Living

Assisted living communities feature a level of care between independent living and skilled nursing. This option is when senior living facilities provide assistance with daily activities including tasks like bathing, dressing, taking medication, and eating. Along with support from staff in handling housekeeping and providing transportation, great assisted living facilities usually offer engaging amenities like a library or fitness center!

This experience lets residents maintain as much independence as possible, as they only receive help for the activities they need it for. Assisted living is ideal for seniors who would struggle to live independently but don’t have significant medical needs.

3. Skilled Nursing

Skilled nursing care is the highest level of care available in senior living facilities, with medical professionals available 24/7. The care provided aims to help maintain and restore as much skill and independence as possible. 

Since these facilities are focused on improving or maintaining residents’ health, they don’t usually have the types of on-site amenities offered at independent and assisted living communities. Skilled nursing facilities can be a long-term option for seniors with serious medical needs or a short-term option for those recovering from a serious injury.

4. Memory Care

Memory care services are specifically designed to meet the needs of seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other significant memory impairments. Senior living communities offering this service are designed to keep residents both engaged and safe. Not only do they provide memory-enhancing activities and assistance with daily function, but memory care facilities offer a secure location so residents don’t wander away or leave without supervision. Typically, the staff at facilities are knowledgable about Alzheimer’s and dementia and they are trained to offer memory care services.

5. Respite or Short-Term Care

Respite care is a short-term senior living option for those who are living and receiving care at home. Respite care allows the primary caregiver, usually an unpaid family member, to catch a break from their everyday caregiving responsibilities. The level of care varies depending on the senior’s needs, whether it’s a weekend or a month, this option is great for families looking for an extra hand in their elderly care duties.

Find a Senior Living Community Near You

At Celebrate Senior Living, we are committed to celebrating the moments, victories, and memories that will last a lifetime for our residents and their loved ones. Whether it’s through assisted or independent living, we provide a friendly community atmosphere with senior living options for every stage of life. We are a Midwest-based foundation that serves Illinois and Indiana with a variety of medical, social, and personal care services in comfortable residential environments, including memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing options. 

Explore one of our three senior living and retirement communities and select the location that fits your individual health, behavioral, and social needs.

• Celebrate South Holland
• Celebrate Niles 
• Celebrate Fort Wayne

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about the senior living housing options we can offer, contact Celebrate Senior Living today! 

Dementia is a broad term used to describe a group of symptoms that can affect thinking, speaking, behavior, and memory in older adults. These symptoms generally involve issues with cognitive function and have the ability to severely interfere with one’s daily life. Changes towards this can be indicative of various memory diseases, like Alzheimer’s. Dementia in older adults can be difficult to diagnose, as slower brain function can just be part of aging. However, if there is an underlying issue, it is important to be aware and educated on the 10 early warning signs of Dementia in older adults.

10 Early Warning Signs of Dementia

1. Memory Loss – One of the first warning signs of dementia is not remembering things. Whether you or a loved one is having trouble remembering events, appointments, or what was just said, these minor things can be signs of early dementia. You may notice increased usage of reminders, like notes or alarms— signaling a noticed disruption to one’s daily life.

2. Confusion – Another early sign of dementia is confusion, especially when it comes to time and place. This would include things like losing track of dates, forgetting times, and having difficulty comprehending events that are happening in the future. You may notice your loved one repeating or clarifying the same event multiple times.

3. Trouble Speaking, Reading, or Writing – If you or a loved one have trouble speaking, reading, or writing — it could be considered an early warning sign of dementia. This includes not being able to think of words for basic objects, like a pen or a phone, or substituting words into a conversation that don’t quite fit.

4. Mood and Personality Changes – Mood and personality changes can be another indication of someone living with dementia. This could be getting overly upset in normal situations, being suspicious of others, or being abnormally fearful. Personalities can change in subtle ways over time, including lack of interest, but is typically out of character.

5. Struggling to Plan or Solve Problems – Other warning signs of dementia are when someone struggles to plan ahead or solve simple problems. This could be as simple as following familiar cooking recipes, getting dressed, or paying bills on time. They may have trouble completing tasks that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as playing a game.

6. Difficulty Completing Normal Tasks – Regular everyday tasks become increasingly difficult to complete. Tasks like cooking, driving, or shopping become a hassle and burdensome. You may notice frustration throughout the process.

7. Withdrawal from Normal Activities – Signs of dementia can include beginning to withdraw from activities and events they normally enjoy. You may notice your loved one stops caring about work or no longer wants part in social activities. They may fall out of a routine they never broke, such as going to church.

8. Issues with Judgment – Issues with judgment are another early indicator of dementia, this could be falling for scams or having trouble caring for a pet properly. You may notice they are not being able to manage money well or not paying attention to personal hygiene like they used to.

9. Problems with Perception and Balance – Signs of dementia can involve someone having trouble with their vision, perception, and hearing. Things like balancing, setting things down, and dropping items, becomes more frequent.

10. Disorientation to time and place – People living with dementia can become lost in familiar places. It may be on their own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get home. It could be getting lost in a familiar place or not remembering the purpose of going into a room. Things that are typically second nature become confusing.

Find An Assisted Living Facilty for Dementia

At Celebrate Senior Living, we are committed to celebrating the moments, victories, and memories that will last a lifetime for our residents and their loved ones. An assisted living community has many benefits for individuals dealing with Dementia and memory loss diseases. Celebrate Senior Living facilities provide seniors their own space while maintaining a friendly community atmosphere of older adults. We are a Midwest-based foundation that serves Illinois and Indiana with a variety of medical, social, and personal care services in comfortable residential environments, including memory care, rehabilitation, and short term stay options.

Explore one of our three senior living and retirement communities and select the location that fits your individual health, behavioral, and social needs.

• Celebrate South Holland
• Celebrate Niles
• Celebrate Fort Wayne

If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about the senior living housing options we can offer, contact Celebrate Senior Livingtoday!