Preparing For The Move To Assisted Living In New Orleans

The holidays are a time to come together as a family for fun, food, and holiday cheer. Between Thanksgiving and New Years’, meals will be shared, gifts will be given, and loved ones will be reunited. Among all this merriment, some families may learn that their loved one needs some extra care and attention. For many families, this means looking into the option of a professional assisted living community. 

Your loved ones’ need for professional care can sneak up on a family. After being reunited with your family members during the holiday season, it can be clear that it’s no longer safe for someone you care about to live alone. If this happens, it’s important to know the warning signs that show assisted living care is necessary.

If your loved one is having trouble with daily tasks, it may be time to move to assisted living near New Orleans.

Know The Signs

Environmental Degradation

When visiting your family it’s easy to notice when things seem off. One of the most telling signs of cognitive decline is the effect it has on your loved one’s environment. Has their house become messy and less organized as it used to be? Are household items placed in bizarre locations? Are there scuff marks in the garage or on the bumper of the car? These are all visual cues that physical and cognitive decline might be affecting your loved one. When these symptoms get bad enough, additional care will be needed to maintain their quality of life.

Cognitive Decline

Almost all seniors succumb to some level of forgetfulness. When these momentary lapses in memory start affecting their quality of life it could be indicative of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms of cognitive decline can look like many different things. These symptoms include failing to remember someone’s name and forgetting important events/appointments. When you start to notice these signs, it’s important you come up with a plan of action as a family.

Physical Decline

Look for a loss of ability to perform daily tasks or activities of daily living. Sometimes referred to as ADLs, these are tasks that healthcare professionals use to determine what level of care is needed within an assisted living environment. These tasks can include bathing, dressing, eating, hygiene, and using the bathroom. Be vigilant for signs of weight changes as well. Changes in weight might be a reflection of one’s inability to procure groceries or cook meals. Pay special attention if your loved one can maintain their balance. Loss of strength and dexterity is a recipe for disaster. These issues can drastically increase the chance of a fall—or worse. 

Making A Plan Of Action

Making the decision to move your loved one into an assisted living facility can be a tough choice for any family. If you recognize any of the above signs or symptoms it’s time to start making a plan of action for your loved one. This doesn’t have to mean moving your senior into an assisted living facility right away. There are many steps in between. But take action now to ensure a smooth and healthy transition.

When talking with your family to come up with a plan, try to avoid tones that sound like you’re forcing your will upon your senior. Instead, open up an honest dialogue with your loved one and come to a “mutual discovery” together. Collaborate on the safety and security of the decision to add long-term care to your lifestyle.

Choosing The Right Assisted Living Option In New Orleans

Making the decision to move to an assisted living facility in New Orleans requires much thought and careful planning. If you have any questions about what your right move might be, don’t hesitate to contact Windsor Senior Living at (985) 624-8040 or fill out a form online. We offer guided tours of all of our facilities to help guide your decision without feeling pressured. Our experts are standing by to help you with whatever questions you may have. 

Celebrate The Holidays With Our Senior Living Homes

The holidays are the time of year when families come together. They share and be merry with one another—and that includes your family at The Windsor Senior Living Community. But it’s often difficult to wrangle family members together, especially ones who may not be able to get out on the roads or have mobility issues, which is why we at Windsor Senior Living have come up with a few ways to make getting together with that much easier and enjoyable. 

Celebrate With The Family

Many of our residents have families they’d like to visit, but sometimes it’s hard to find the time. If you live in the area or plan to make a trip to visit, it’s the perfect time to take them out for the day! Celebrate with the family in an outing or in the family home. Take the opportunity for grandma or grandpa to see even more members of the family and have a party! 

If you live outside the Covington area, far enough that driving every day becomes a hassle, consider spending the night right here at The Windsor. We have an alternative available to local expensive hotels. Currently, we’re offering guests the use of a guest apartment for the minimum price of $80 a night. Staying here means you’ll have access to a full kitchen, a sitting room, bedroom with a queen-size bed, and a large bathroom. Please keep in mind that this apartment is first come, first serve and can only be rented for a week at a time. So please plan your visit accordingly. 

Chase Away the Winter Blues

Even if you can only visit for an hour—it can mean so much. Because it’s easy to feel alone during the holiday season—especially for older individuals—and seeing their family helps them feel included. But with your help, and the help of our community, we hope to ease any loneliness. Remember, at The Windsor, we offer new events every week, and the schedule changes every month. Be sure to keep up with our activity calendar and see what events are coming up in December.

A great way to spread holiday cheer is by helping your loved one decorate their apartments for the holidays. And this doesn’t just have to be with the residents who need assistance. Decorating together can be a fun pastime! And if you’re worried about potential fires with candles, there are battery-powered alternative lighting options. Artificial Christmas trees are another great holiday hack. There’s no cleanup necessary and most are treated with flame-retardant materials. There are always safe alternatives, so you can decorate easily, festively, and safely. Either way, there’s always room to bring in that holiday spirit!

Decorate our Senior Living Homes when you come to visit! your family

Deck the Halls With Our Senior Living Homes

Let’s make this holiday season great for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns for us, please give us a call at 985-624-8040 or send us a message online. We look forward to helping you find the answers you need. Happy Holidays, everyone!