Be Proactive About Senior Care – The Potential Cost of Waiting

Posted on

May 07, 2016

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In the perfect world, we all want to age in our own home. It is generally the setting where we are most comfortable. However, life often has different plans for us.

As we age, our daily activities can get more challenging. Some warning signs are; it is unsafe to be at home alone, the amount of home care needed gets too expensive, family/neighbors/friends can no longer help enough, or loneliness or boredom is starting to set in. Senior Living such as Independent or Assisted Living can often help make life easier, more fulfilling, and provide any care that is needed.

By being proactive about moving into Senior Living, we often find that there are several advantages of moving sooner than later. We get a lot more out of the community or home by moving in when we are more active. We make new friends easier, we get involved in the activities, enjoy the food, go on outings, and rekindle old friendships. Plus, time with family becomes Quality Time instead of loved ones simply helping with chores, transportation, etc.

We often see thedownsides of waiting too long. For example, something happens as we wait to make the move; a fall, a broken hip, an accident due to dementia. The unfortunate thing is that when something like that occurs, Senior Living may not be an option anymore. We miss the window of opportunity and then only far more expensive options are available (i.e. a Nursing Home). A proactive search can save a tremendous amount of money, and also affect quality of life. Waiting for an event to happen that forces a move can be very stressful to ourselves and our loved ones. By moving into Senior Living earlier, the safer environment can often help avoid more intensive settings later, and quality of life is often enhanced, not diminished.

We usually find a great place while we have plenty of time to look, and are not under stress because of a short time line. We have a better chance of finding the perfect place when we look earlier. Living at home can be a challenge as we age. A common phrase we hear is I wish I would have done this sooner.

Editors Note: This article was submitted by Ed Wagner. Ed is the owner of Assisted Living Locators and may be reached at 303-981-5021 or by email at ed@assistedlivinglocators.com

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