You cant always be there, but we can

Tag: retire

Signs it’s Time to Hang up the Car Keys for Good

Sooner or later retiring your keys and driver’s license will be the right thing to do to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. For some that time will come sooner rather than later, and determining exactly when that is can be difficult for families and aging individuals to navigate. Below we discuss three major signs that may indicate it’s time for a driver to retire their keys for good.

Declining Vision

Regular trips to the eye doctor for up to date vision tests is the best way to definitively determine if it’s safe to continue driving. Each state has their own laws regarding the age at which seniors must visit the DMV in order to keep their licenses. Most DMV locations also offer convenient vision tests and refresher courses for individuals over a certain age.

Confusion

Regularly getting lost or confused while behind the wheel is a major sign one should no longer be driving, especially if it happens in familiar locations. Regardless if the individual has experienced any other signs of memory loss or early dementia, becoming disoriented while driving should always be taken very seriously.

Property Damage

An increasing number of dents, dings, scratches and scrapes on one’s vehicle may hint at difficulties with night vision, depth perception, or delayed reflexes. Regularly assessing the vehicle for damages can help determine how often these mishaps occur and if they become more frequent.

Final Thoughts

Ensure your aging loved one can always get around comfortably and safely with professional transportation services. Home Instead Senior Care is a nationwide provider of home care and safe transportation services that help keep the rhythm of everyday life in place with rides to the hair salon, grocery store, worship services and other events. Contact us at (402) 205-8492 for more information.

Assisted Living versus In-Home Senior Living Care

Many families have to struggle with the decision on what they should do about the living situation for their loved ones who have reached retirement age. Many seniors tend to prefer to stay inside their own home for as long as possible due to the familiarity and the attachment they have, which is completely understandable if not incredibly subjective.

Of course, with every compromise comes a threshold for when one choice is simply no longer sustainable, but there’s always a need to respect and accept the desires of a loved one. But there are several other questions that should be asked when deciding between an assisted living facility or in-home care services.

The Right Questions to Ask for Senior Living

There are a number of things you should inquire about before making such an important decision about an aging parent. Do they live alone? Is there somebody they could move in with? Do they require constant medical care? Would they be comfortable having someone caring for and feeding them while keeping them safe?

You would be well off sitting down and creating a list of any potential queries so you have all your bases covered!

Weighing Your Options

From there, you can move on to the pros and cons of an assisted living facility versus in-home care. As we already mentioned, many will opt to continue living in their homes where they are most comfortable.

To move away from the social isolation and poor nutrition that is typically caused from independent senior living, many families will hire in-home caregivers who will provide oversight, prepare meals, and take care of any transportation services. On the other hand, some will choose to go with an assisted living community so they’re among others their age they can interact with.

Coming to a Final Decision

Any choice you make should always take the wishes of your loved one into consideration. That way, you will be able to come to a solution together so everyone feels good about the arrangement. There are other factors you should think about.

This is why you should get in touch with a professional who can sit down with you and go over these matters in full. In the meantime, if you have any questions or thoughts you would like to share regarding this determination, be sure to share them in the comments section below. We would love to read them!