Facing the Truth: What to Do When Your Parent Can No Longer Live at Home
“In youth we learn. In age, we understand.”
~Marie Von Ebner Eschenbach
It can be a very scary time in our lives, when we go to our parent’s home and realize that something just isn’t right. It could be that they haven’t cleaned properly in some time, that they aren’t keeping up with their personal hygiene properly, or that they don’t seem to recognize you immediately when you walk through the door. It could also be that gut-wrenching moment when you get a phone call from someone stating that your loved one was found somewhere, and they cannot get home.
Whatever the reason, at Pipestone Place, 
we understand there comes a time when it is apparent that your loved one can no longer live on their own, and change is on the horizon. Most people’s first instinct is to move in with their parent or have their parent come live with them, but this isn’t always the best or healthiest solution, as most people have families and jobs that they have to juggle as well.
Enter senior living communities and memory care facilities.
These essential and vibrant communities have been specifically designed to help seniors transition from living in their homes independently to getting the help that they need. Most assisted living communities provide the level of care that your parents need, helping to still foster and encourage their feelings of independence but stay safe at the same time.
So, what should your next step be to ensure that your parents can live comfortably but stay safe? Let’s explore your options.
What to Look For
The first thing you want to do is determine whether or not your parent is safe to live alone or whether they may need some additional help. You can do this by asking yourself the following questions:
● Can my parent take care of themselves hygienically? Are they bathing and grooming themselves? Does it present a health risk to them doing so on their own (falling, etc.)?
● Are they able to keep up with housework inside the home?
● Are they able to keep up with housework outside of the home?
● Are they getting enough mental stimulation?
● Are they having trouble communicating?
● Are they lonely?
● Are they having memory loss problems?
If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to seek additional care and alternative living arrangements for your parents. Struggling with even one of these areas can open your parents up to health and safety risks, so it’s important to get them the help that they need. Sometimes, it doesn’t have to be drastic – it could just be something simple. However, once seniors start to digress and can’t take care of themselves in one area of daily life, they usually begin to struggle with other areas as well. At Pipestone Place, we understand that it only takes one mistake for your loved one to get injured or worse, so being proactive when the first signs emerge is crucial.
Start Providing Care ASAP
The main concern is to ensure that your parent is safe while you begin figuring out your next steps. This could mean moving in with your loved one or having them move in with you temporarily. It could also mean hiring a private nurse until things are settled.
Whatever your unique situation looks like, it’s important to know that this process can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, and you don’t want anything to happen in the interim. From the moment you realize that your parent can no longer live alone, you need to begin taking precautions to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
If you come from a larger family who can all pitch in and help, it may be possible to keep your parent at home for an extended period of time, but it’s important to realize that it can be extremely taxing on most people to serve as round-the-clock caregivers.
Explore Assisted Living or Memory Care Facility Options
Assisted living communities or memory care facilities are not what they used to be – they are now vibrant communities where seniors can begin the next chapter of their lives among friends and supportive caretakers. While this next step might not seem like something you are eager to initiate because you’ve always dreamt of taking care of your parents, it’s important to know that serving as your loved one’s caretaker can put unnecessary pressure and stress on you, your relationships, your children, your job, and even your parent. It can also strain the loving relationship you have with your loved one, which can be really frustrating and upsetting.
Memory care facilities and assisted living communities have come a long way, and they are now truly specialized and caring places where your parent can live their life in a full, fun, and safe manner. At Pipestone Place, your loved one will receive consistent support and healthcare attention from our trained professional caregivers who have their best interests in mind and a sincere interest in their wellbeing.
You will be able to sleep better at night knowing that your parent is getting the physical, emotional, and medical attention and assistance that they need on a daily basis.
Prepare Your Parents for a Change
Change is difficult and often not well received. The hardest part of the entire process is preparing your parent for a major change in their life. They may be resistant to it at first, which is completely normal. So, it’s important to accept and understand that is a scary and difficult time for them. You may need to ease them into this decision and have them tour communities with you, meet with the people who will be taking care of them, and play an active role in choosing where they live. If possible, this is especially true for those facing memory issues. You want your parent to be as involved in the process as they are capable of being.
Contact Us for More Information
We understand that this transitional period can be a difficult time for you and your family. Moving your parent out of their home is a decision that no one ever wants to make, but it is often a necessary choice in order to ensure their health and safety. At Pipestone Place, we strive to create a home-like community for our seniors and memory care residents and encourage them to live full, healthy lives with the levels of care and support they need. We want all our residents to live in comfort and enjoy a safe level of independence with the chance to thrive in a structured way that keeps them safe.
If it is no longer a safe situation for your parent to live alone, please know that you are not alone in making this life-changing decision. Our caring staff is here to help you through each step of the process, as you transition your loved one to an assisted living or memory care facility and help them begin the next beautiful chapter of their life.
Looking for a Safe Memory-Loss Assisted-Living Haven for Your Loved One?
Contact Our Pipestone Place Family to Schedule a Visit Today!
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