When You’re Feeling Stressed Caring for an Aging Parent, Look into Assisted Living

November 25, 2020 by ·

It’s no secret that a person can get extremely stressed looking after an aging parent or other family member who needs assistance. These family caregivers often never dreamed this was something they would do in their 40s or 50s. Yet, for those who are feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, assisted living is still an option. 

Many people avoid looking into the topic of assisted living for various reasons. Some simply don’t know very much about it. Others may feel as though suggesting it or even thinking about it means they don’t care about this aging parent or other loved. 

 

It can actually be a sign of love.

Assisted Living Theodore, AL: Feeling Stressed Caring for an Aging Parent

To look into and suggest assisted living does not mean you are turning your back on your mother or father, spouse, sibling, or other loved one. It actually means you love them so much that you are willing to look into this option. 

Too many people have various misconceptions about assisted living. They simply don’t know anything about it and conflate it with other types of facility style care. 

In truth, assisted living is about helping aging seniors maximize quality of life in a safe and comfortable environment. 

 

It is a sense of community. 

Just about every assisted living facility offers a sense of community. That’s because there are other seniors who are dealing with various challenges during their Golden Years of life. That sense of community is important for people as they age. 

Your elderly mother or father, whoever the senior is you’re looking after, would connect with other men and women their own age. They may even reconnect with friends they haven’t seen in many years. 

This sense of community is important for people of all ages, including and perhaps especially seniors. 

 

It is a safe harbor. 

Many aging seniors living alone worry about their safety. They wonder what might happen if they slip and fall or struggle to get up from a chair and have nobody to call on for help. 

As people get older and deal with chronic health issues, increasing risks of health emergencies, or just diminishing strength that is the natural process of aging, they understand that safety is more compromised with age. 

At assisted living, they will still deal with the same challenges, but supportive staff will be a quick call away. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed looking after an aging parent or other loved one, look into assisted living. It’s not giving up; it’s actually an act of love. 

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Theodore, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017. 

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Theodore AL, Stressed Caring for an Aging Parent · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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