When Is the Right Time to Consider a Senior Living Community?

Far too often, children tell their parents, “You’ll never need to live in a nursing home. I’ll take care of you.” But what many children fail to realize is as we age, our abilities to perform even the simplest daily tasks diminish and the idea of needing assistance becomes a reality. Fortunately, in-home health care and senior living communities have made elder care easier on families, helping to avoid costly nursing home stays.

Before making the decision to move your loved one from his or her home to a senior living community (or a nursing home), consider the following “Activities of Daily Living (ADL),” a tool used by healthcare professionals to describe daily tasks that individuals face on a daily basis (grooming, eating, etc.) and evaluate his or her ability to perform them safely and comfortably.

When reviewing these activities, consider whether your loved one’s abilities fall under: “Independent, Needs Help, Dependent, or Cannot Do.” Doing so may help avoid long-term stay in a skilled nursing facility and instead present an opportunity for personalized in-home care.

Activities of Daily Living:

1. Dressing
2. Bathing
3. Cooking
4. Housework & Basic Home Maintenance
5. Toileting
6. Oral Care
7. Grooming
8. Walking & Transferring
9. Stair Climbing
10. Eating
11. Shopping
12. Laundry
13. Driving
14. Paying Bills/Managing Finances
15. Managing Medications
16. Using the telephone

Your loved one may be able to perform some of the duties listed above, but not all often leading to a difficult decision: whether it’s time for a senior living community or if your loved one would benefit from in-home health care. Regardless of your decision, Sonas Home Health Care can help. We refer loving and qualified certified nursing assistants, home health aides, nurses and companions to provide a variety of in-home services, from respite care to around-the-clock supervision. Sonas Home Health Care specializes in helping seniors “age in place”.

If your decision is to leave home for a senior living community, our transitions home program can provide your family with comforting assistance and the tools you need to ensure a smooth and stress-free transition.

Contact us directly to speak with a home health care professional or request a free in-home consultation. Together we can determine the right plan of action for your family and help your loved begin his or her new chapter in life with confidence.

Contact Sonas for Home Health Care Services in Florida

If you or an aging loved one are considering home health care services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today (888) 592-5855.

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.