There are a lot of reasons that you might find yourself having to find alternate housing for an aging relative. There could be major changes in their life due to the loss of a spouse, they’ve retired or there are some major health issues that need to be taken care of.
No matter the reason, it’s important that whatever kind of housing you decide upon that it’s in a place that they are familiar with and will be comfortable living in.
For instance, a senior community in your local area could be good because it’s still in the area they are used to living in and they try to keep their seniors as active and involved as much as possible. But it all depends upon the abilities and needs of your aging relative.
If you feel that your relative is in need of someplace else to live other than their own home the first thing you should do is call social services in the area they live in. They should be able to give you assistance in finding the different programs for seniors in your local area.
You can also check out the U.S. Administration on Aging site and the Eldercare Locator site online to help you start your housing search. Your social services department can also make an assessment of their finances to see if they might qualify for financial assistance for housing.
You will also need to take time out and honestly evaluate what the conditions are with the living situation that your relative is in. Make sure to include any issues of safety that might arise and see how well they get around and do everyday things as well as including all of their medical issues if there are any. Make sure to establish a good needs list for your relative and look for a place that can help them with those needs.
You need to choose the best option for your senior relative. If they still take care of the basics and get around pretty good then don’t put them in a nursing home. Look into getting them into a place that caters to just seniors that need a small amount of assistance.
A retirement community or an assisted living facility would probably be best. But if they have severe health issued and need nursing care then you might need to put them a twenty-four-hour care center like a nursing home.
If they are in pretty good health then it’s important that you simply consider a retirement facility that gives their elder citizens a lot of freedom and independence but will give them some help with things like their house cleaning, make sure they have plenty of things to get involved with, offering them meals and modes of transportation to get to where they need to get without having to worry about driving or the price of gas and car insurance.
Whatever you decide for your aging relative, it is important that at all times to consider their feelings and their happiness. The aging process is hard enough for some people to handle, you don’t need to complicate their lives by making the wrong decision and putting them in the wrong kind of housing.