Is your mom, dad, spouse or friend getting on in years, and you think it’s time to consider a retirement home? In this article, you’ll find all the warning signs that could help you make the right decision for your loved one.
1. Reduced mobility
Is your loved one no longer able to get around on his or her own, and do you need to accompany him or her to all medical appointments? What’s more, your loved one can no longer get around on his or her own, and needs a wheelchair or walking aid?
In such cases, a retirement home might be an appropriate option, so that all the care required can be brought together in one place. What’s more, a retirement home is already adapted and equipped to facilitate mobility for the elderly, unlike a single-family dwelling, which sometimes requires extensive adaptation work.
2. The need for a social life
Such is life: we grow old and lose loved ones along the way. Old age can sometimes be synonymous with loneliness. Elderly people living alone in their own homes can feel isolated from the world due to a lack of visits or mobility.
Retirement homes provide a solution to social needs. By opting for this communal living solution, your loved one will be in daily contact with other residents and nursing staff. They’ll be able to make friends and rub shoulders with new people every day.
And being in a seniors’ residence doesn’t mean saying goodbye to your social life. Quite the contrary! Residents can take part in activities both inside and outside Manoir Gouin. They can go to a café in Montreal’s Ahuntsic-Cartierville district, to church or to the park.
Living independently or semi-independently, residents have all the freedom they need to roam the pretty streets of Ahuntsic-Cartierville and enjoy the amenities of Manoir Gouin while being accompanied on a daily basis.
3. Health management
Health management can be a difficult subject to discuss with loved ones. Some people refuse to accept help from their loved ones for fear of being too demanding. In a retirement home, the question no longer even arises: all health care is provided in the same place.
This makes health management much easier. Your loved one can benefit from medical visits and care directly in his or her room or in the seniors’ residence. This means they can manage their day-to-day health independently.
4. Day-to-day assistance
Choosing a retirement home doesn’t mean giving up your independence. Quite the contrary, in fact. Choosing to live in a retirement home will enable your loved one to retain as much of his or her autonomy as possible, while receiving daily assistance when needed.
Seniors can therefore define their needs with the seniors’ residence. They can decide whether they want to cook some of their meals themselves, or have them all in the communal dining room. The apartments are equipped with kitchenettes so that the senior can choose what suits her best.
Caregiver
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably a caregiver. The responsibility and mental burden of being a caregiver can sometimes be more than we can imagine.
This important role can sometimes take on enormous proportions, such as the adjustment of work and daily life to enable us to continue caring for the person in need. Sometimes, the care becomes so great that it’s impossible to continue in this way.
As a caregiver, you also need to think about yourself and your health. The retirement home solution may offer you some relief, and your loved one will benefit from high-quality care and assistance so that he or she can continue to live a semi-autonomous life. It’s also your role as a caregiver to recommend retirement home living when the burden becomes too great for you.
This way, you can continue to enjoy seeing your loved one in need in a nursing home setting, and spend quality time with them.
