​Knowing when it’s time to either bring in In-Home Care help or to move to an Assisted Living facility?

​by Cathy Ellis

Everyone wants to stay home and avoid moving to one of those nursing homes or assisted living facilities and my mom and my husband and I feel the same way.

You will know when it is the right time for you or a loved one when the household tasks are becoming overwhelming, you are not eating properly and basically you are feeling pretty isolated depending on other people to help you with most of your routine tasks.
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I have seen people who were living on frozen dinners, sitting in the same chair every day and basically doing nothing, but watch television MOVE TO ASSISTED LIVING and become active members of society again.

When is it time to move?  Well, for one thing, In-Home care can be very expensive, usually $20-$25 an hour and that can really add up if you ever need 24 hour care. If you can safely stay in your home, you may just add a few hours a day or week of In-Home care to help. Once in your home to help with care, they can do some housework, laundry and errands for you. In Home care can be a great alternative.

In my 35+ years in senior living I can actually say that I have had some of the best times of my life in assisted living facilities! They really can be like “a cruise ship that never sails!” That sounds so cliché, but you truly have a daily itinerary of things to do and a menu that is like a good restaurant!

Most communities have daily exercise classes at all levels, current events, outings, painting, arts and crafts, book reviews and many other classes to take that go way beyond Bingo!
The dining rooms will vary, most of the senior living communities offer several meal choices and “anytime” dining between 7am and 7pm.  Whether or not they have a salad bar or not will vary, but they all do offer lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and homemade soups in addition to their daily Bill o’ Faire.

It is proven that 30 minutes a day of physical and 30 minutes a day of cognitive exercise will help preserve your brain. It all boils down to, “use it or lose it!” We offer lots more suggestions, alternatives to paying for care, a helpful video and resources on our website.  www.seniorcareoptions.org  Call us 7 days a week 760-696-3542 or 949-412-1288

Our service is no-cost to client, we get paid a fee by the facility if a placement occurs.
Cathy Ellis managed Assisted Living facilities for 24 years and has spent the last 35 years working in the senior living industry.