Do you remember the feeling of being a teenager and craving independence? Wanting to get out into the world and do what you want, when you want? Your parents probably told you that you weren’t ready and you might have thought that nothing else could be so frustrating, until now.
Having neighbors check in on you or going to live with one of your children probably makes you feel you’re a teenager again – and not in a good way. Sure, that was a time when you were protected and cared for. But you also probably felt stuck, hindered, and sheltered. Just like being a teenager, getting older can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be.
What Do You Do When You Can’t Take Care of Yourself Anymore?
Getting older, it’s natural to experience physical and cognitive changes (FYI – regular reading prevents cognitive decline). This often makes it harder for many to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs) – like bathing, dressing and eating – on our own.
This can sometimes bring up complicated emotions such as:
- Frustration
- Anxiety or depression
- Loneliness
- Loss of self-esteem
- Feelings of helplessness
The thing is, while you should pay attention to these emotions, they don’t mean that you have nothing left to look forward to!
This time of life is special to many people. Working and raising your family are behind you, and now you have the time to relax, rest, and connect with yourself and others. You’ll be able to read more, learn new things, share new experiences with friends and family, pick back up with old hobbies, and pursue new ones.
If you find yourself in need of a little help to be able to live your life to the fullest, that’s ok. It’s completely natural to need a little help and you might have to push through sadness, anger, frustration, guilt or embarrassment in order to ask for help.
Your feelings are completely valid, normal and 100% human – but they can cloud your judgment. You might know that you need help, but may be hesitant to ask for it.
Is Assisted Living the Best Option for Me?
It can be hard to admit that it’s time to make the move to assisted living, but you’re not alone – as many as 70% of Americans will need some form of assisted living at some point. If you’re struggling with caring for yourself on a regular basis, getting help is worth it.
Signs That It’s Time To Move To Assisted Living
Assisted living might mean a better quality of life for you if you’ve been experiencing any of the following:
- Difficulties with performing ADLs like grooming, dressing, practicing good hygiene or eating meals on your own
- Decreased physical activity, which can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions
- Difficulties with walking, climbing or getting in and out of cars
- Problems with strength, coordination, balance or flexibility
- Vision or hearing problems
- Difficulties with cooking, cleaning or other household tasks
- Difficulties mowing the lawn or doing other yard work
- Trouble with remembering to take your medications
- Trouble with remembering to pay bills
- Mail piling up in the mailbox or around the house
- Lack of social opportunities
- Decreased mobility – you can no longer easily get to the grocery store, church or other places you used to go regularly
- A fall or serious injury
At the Right Assisted Living Community Your Independence Grows
Lots of people think that assisted living means giving up your independence, but it’s actually the opposite.
When you decide to make the move to assisted living, you’re making a conscious and deliberate choice. You choose to not be dependent on your children. You choose to live life on your own terms – with limited assistance from caring professionals, if and when you need it.
The right community will give you everything you need to live a full and vibrant life, full of friendship, joy and personal growth.
At Eagle Flats Village, we do everything we can to ensure that our residents continue to choose us each and every day. We offer spacious private apartments with kitchenettes and bay windows, as well as housekeeping and laundry services, three home-cooked meals a day (plus snacks), a bustling social calendar, local transportation, assistance with ADLs, medication management, and more. And everything, including utilities and basic cable, is included, which means no more trying to remember which bills have been paid and which ones haven’t been.
Ready to see why our community members love living at Eagle Flats Village?
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