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Putting Off a Move to Assisted Living? Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t

Moving to an assisted living community can offer peace of mind and endless benefits to seniors and their caregivers. However – settling into a decision to move can be quite the process. Whether an individual is hesitant to change, concerned about finances, worried about making friends, or in denial of health and safety needs, emotions play a major role in influencing a prospective resident’s timeline to move.

The resistance to change is understandable, but can delaying a move too long harm your loved one’s health and well-being? In this article, we’ll discuss five reasons to avoid putting off a senior living move when the option is a good fit.

 

“Not Now”

Senior living counselors commonly hear comments from prospective residents declaring why “now” is not the right time for them to move. Perhaps they want to sell their home first, or maybe they’re still driving. They may be active and healthy and feel a move is unnecessary until after a health crisis. Some seniors believe family members are overreacting about their need for additional support and argue that they can manage things “just fine” independently. Still, others prefer to reserve their resources for a greater time of need. While there are ample reasons to hold off on a move to a senior living community, waiting can prevent an individual from experiencing the full benefit of moving.

 

“No Time Like the Present”

You don’t often hear a resident confess, “I wish I lived at home alone longer” or “I wish I moved in a few years later,” perhaps because the lifestyle change, and benefits of senior living are so profound. In fact, after moving into a community, many older adults can’t imagine living without the support and connection they now experience daily in their new home. Most seniors rely on their independence to enjoy the full range of benefits in a community – fitness, wellness offerings, trips, outings, events, resident-led programs, volunteer opportunities, and a lifestyle of fun and engaging social activities onsite and elsewhere.

When an older adult chooses to delay a move, the physical and emotional impact can become more complex—care needs increase, social circles shrink, and family members begin to feel the strain of increasing caregiving responsibilities. Even family visits can become task-focused and less fulfilling. Predicting life’s changes is impossible, but if you’re putting off a move to senior living for any reason, you may want to reconsider. Here’s why…

 

Putting Off a Move to Assisted Living?

When change is the only constant in life, there is no time like the present. Let’s take a look at five reasons why you should not put off a move to assisted living.

 

Declining Independence

While many believe that a move to senior living will restrict their independence, the opposite is true. The longer a senior lives alone at home, the harder it becomes to maintain regular physical activity habits. Motivation to stay physically and mentally active can wane, leading to changes in mobility and cognitive health. Daily routines can become time-consuming or more challenging to manage, and habits like watching long hours of television, poor eating, or excessive sleeping during the day can become more frequent and even expected. Instead of spending time and energy enjoying life, those who choose to delay a move end up compromising their independence in the long run, only to preserve their declining health and low vitality.

Suppose you could enjoy the maintenance-free senior living lifestyle and its abundant benefits, services, and amenities. Wouldn’t you prefer to do so with greater independence to take advantage of all that community living offers?

 

Health Complications & Concerns

Seniors living alone at home and delaying a move to senior living may struggle to maintain healthy habits, a safe home environment, and any healthcare needs that arise as they age. Mobility issues, hearing and vision loss, difficulties with personal care and medication management, and mental health concerns are just a few of the many challenges seniors face when growing older at home. As a result, it’s common for an aging loved one to experience frequent falls, illnesses, infections, and complications from chronic conditions, which can result in unexpected hospital visits, rehab stays, early memory loss, and other issues.

Both inconvenient and difficult, these transitions in and out of the home environment and the healthcare system can be physically and emotionally distressing, leading to a domino effect of additional health issues and concerns. The need to coordinate essential home and healthcare services adds another layer of responsibility, which could otherwise be managed by a team of senior living healthcare professionals and/or partners. In these instances, the benefit of support and care coordination found in a senior living community can be invaluable, especially for family caregivers taxed by multiple demands of work and family.

 

Growing Social Isolation

Families of an aging loved one living alone often worry about the impact of social isolation on a loved one’s mental, emotional, and cognitive health, especially as social networks begin to shrink and trigger feelings of depression, anxiety, and loss. Seniors who choose to delay moving to senior living commonly experience the loss of community, cherished relationships, independence, and a sense of purpose. These connections are essential to maintaining health and well-being as research continues to highlight the importance of nurturing social bonds and daily face-to-face human interaction. Underestimating the role of meaningful relationships and shared experiences can not only hinder your loved one’s ability to thrive later in life but may also contribute to their longevity.

 

Changes in Availability & Rates

When touring a senior living community, most seniors and their caregivers give little thought to changes in availability and rental rates between the time of their visit and their actual decision to move. However, availability and market rates can change rapidly depending on the time of year, local demographics, and other factors. Delaying a move can mean prospective residents are placed on a waiting list for an apartment that offers the level of care they prefer. Or it may mean limited access to and a higher cost for a sought-after residence in your ideal location. Keep in mind that placing a deposit is often the only way to ensure your preferred residence and secure the community that best suits your future.

 

Downsizing Distress

Downsizing from the family home is a significant part of the moving process, requiring time, energy, and many emotional decisions that can tax an aging loved one. Delaying a move to senior living often means delaying the downsizing process, making it more difficult for a senior loved one to manage the process independently before they move.

So often, a delayed move to senior living becomes a priority after a loved one experiences a fall or other urgent health crisis. As a result, it’s common for an individual to transition directly from a rehabilitation stay to an assisted living or memory care community without the chance to sort through their belongings at home and manage the downsizing process. For some, the thought of leaving the process to others to manage can cause distress and family conflict. Others who choose to plan for an earlier move can find closure in downsizing.

 

Trade Stress for Peace of Mind

Delaying a senior living move, while it may seem practical or cost-effective, can make all the difference in determining your loved one’s successful transition to any assisted living community. Don’t sacrifice the benefits of community living for the illusion of prolonged independence, especially when there is a growing need for support and connection. Applying resources to a senior living move sooner rather than later will respect your loved one’s desire to live with independence and purpose and provide the right setting for healthy, safe, and relationship-centered living.

 

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