Is Now the Right Time to Consider Assisted Living?
By Rick Banas of Gardant Management Solutions, Inc.
Is now the right time to explore the possibility of assisted living for a loved one? For a spouse, a parent, a grandparent.
Here are some things to consider:
Is your loved one eating properly and getting the nourishment they need? What is your loved one eating? Who does the shopping? The cooking? What is in the refrigerator? The kitchen cabinets? If your loved is getting Meals on Wheels, how many meals are delivered each week? Is it one meal a day Mondays through Fridays? What about weekends? What is your loved one eating the rest of the time?
Is your loved one taking medications when and as your loved one should? Can your loved one tell you what medications they are taking? When they should be taking their medications? For what reasons? Be sure to check your loved one’s pill caddy or vials of medications.
How is your loved one’s memory? Your loved one’s mobility? Does your loved one show signs of confusion?
Are there any problems with balance? Any concerns about your loved one climbing stairs to get to the place where they sleep, do laundry, go outside?
Do you notice any changes in your loved one’s physical appearance; how your loved one dresses; the appearance of the house or apartment?
Is the bathroom in the place where your loved one lives conducive to your loved one’s needs? Does it have a shower or a bathtub? Grab bars? A raised toilet?
Is it still safe for your loved one to drive? If your loved one is no longer able to drive, how are they getting to doctor’s appointments? How are they getting their medications, their groceries?
Is your loved one getting the socialization and interaction with others that is so important to physical, mental, and emotional health? Or does it appear that your loved one has become more socially isolated? More and more research studies indicate that social interaction is one of the most important factors to healthy aging.
If you are caring for a loved one, how about you? Are you finding it difficult to balance your caring responsibilities with the needs of your spouse, your children, your job. What about your physical, mental, and emotional health? Caregiving can take its toll. It is not uncommon to hear that the health of a caregiver declines faster than the person the caring for.
At the assisted living communities that Gardant manages, residents benefit from the opportunity to live in a residential apartment and receive the personal assistance and help with medications they need. Residents are able to furnish and decorate the apartment to their taste.
Convenience and support services, such as three meals a day plus snacks, housekeeping and laundry, are included. Residents also benefit from all of the opportunities that are available to socialize with family, friends and neighbors and participate in social, recreational, educational and wellness programs and activities.
Certified staff is on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Most of the communities are designed to serve older adults who need some help and assistance to maintain their independence. Several are specifically designed to serve older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Two serve individuals 22 to 64 years of age with physical disabilities.
Many of the communities Gardant manages have been approved to operate through a Medicaid-waiver program. This enables the communities to serve those who are on or would qualify for Medicaid in addition to individuals who can afford to pay privately.
Staff at the communities would welcome the opportunity to talk to you, show you around, discuss your specific situation, and answer your questions. Gardant manages more than 80 senior living, assisted living and memory care communities primarily in Illinois and Indiana as well as in Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia. Our focus is on providing residents with the Love, Compassion and Dignity they deserve in addition to the help and assistance they need.
Click here to find locations of Gardant communities near you.
