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How to Get Your Parents’ Doctor Involved When Considering Assisted Living

As your parents age, you might begin to wonder when it may be time to consider whether to move a loved one into assisted living. Although every situation is different, there are some telling signs that your loved one should no longer be living alone. But even once you’ve determined it might be time for assisted living, it can be hard to convince your parents it’s the right time. When it’s time to talk with your loved ones about moving into assisted living, here are four situations when it helps to get their doctor involved and how to talk to your parent’s doctor when you do.

 Recent Accidents

Accidents happen, but as people get older, the odds rise of them happening again. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. If your loved one recently fell, had a medical scare or got into a fender bender, tell their doctor and ask them to use the close call as a teachable moment. Your loved one’s doctor may share your concerns about your parent’s safety at home or may be able to alleviate those concerns or suggest where to get a home assessment.

A Slow Recovery

If you notice your parent isn’t recovering from minor illnesses such as a cold or the flu as quickly as they used or that they’re not able or willing to seek medical care when needed, it might be time to start thinking about alternate living arrangements. Assisted living offers expert care and medical attention, if needed, as well as nutritious, often chef-prepared cuisine catered for specific medical conditions and senior needs. When your parent’s health or safety is at risk, ask their doctor to intervene.

A Chronic Health Condition That’s Worsening

If your loved one has been diagnosed with a progressive health condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia or congestive heart failure, learn about how it will progress and how it could impact their ability to stay at home or make a decision about moving. Share what you’ve learned from their doctor and through your research, and discuss how the services offered by an assisted living community could help them as their health worsens.

Increasing Difficulty Managing Activities of Daily Living

Activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are the skills needed to live independently: bathing, dressing, grooming, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, managing medications, driving, etc. If you notice your loved one having increasing difficulties managing these activities, ask their doctor to evaluate them as part of a functional assessment.

Information gathered in this process can be used by the caregiving team to develop a comprehensive plan for therapy and future care decisions and can also help in the process of long-term care decision-making. Your parent’s doctor is in a pivotal position to assess your parent’s functional status and target interventions to prevent further loss of function and to maintain their self-care status. Performing an office-based functional assessment will measure your parent’s ability to perform self-care and fulfill the important social roles of everyday life.

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Communicating with Your Parent’s Doctor

Ask your parents to sign the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) form, which gives health care professionals permission to share medical information about your parent with you. Some doctors will divulge information if your parent gives oral approval, but having the HIPAA form ensures you’ll get answers. You can get this form at the doctor’s office or a hospital.

Before the visit, suggest that you and your parent talk to the doctor together first, then offer to step out so your parent can have time with the doctor alone. Decide together what questions you want to ask and who will ask them, and then let your parent take the lead.

If you want the doctor to bring up a touchy subject, such as driving or whether to live independently, it’s helpful to fax the list of questions and issues to them before the appointment. If the doctor asks the questions, then your parent will be more likely to address the issue. They’re also more likely to listen to the doctor’s advice and opinion than your own.

Following the visit, discuss the information you learned and how your parent feels the visit went. This is a good time to check in about how your parent feels about assisted living.

If you’re considering assisted living for a parent, get their doctor involved. They can lay the same groundwork, explaining what seems to be wrong and suggesting options for fixing it, without risking a strained relationship.

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Has your dad stopped getting together for lunches or outings with friends or visits with neighbors? Have you stopped enjoying time with your parents because you’re a caregiver?

Choosing an assisted living community is a big decision. Learn how to find the right one for you and your loved one.

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No one ever plans to be sick or disabled, and disasters, man-made or natural, can happen at any time, anywhere.

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Moving to assisted living is a life-changing event.

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Have you had to cut back your hours at work to care for your mom? Are you worried about administering medications or injections?

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Assisted living can be a touchy subject. No matter how you approach it, your parent is likely to have objections to something.

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This checklist will help to make sure you are getting the most out of your visit to The Arbors.

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If you’re unsure what Assisted Living looks like in real life, whether there is a difference with nursing homes or a desire to see how community life unfolds, then this guide is exactly what you need.

A guide to discover the Care Team and a Typical Day in Assisted Living.

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-How to Choose the Right Assisted Living Community: What You Need to Know Before You Begin Your SearchHave you decided that assisted living is the best option for your elderly parent, and now are feeling overwhelmed on how to begin your search for the right community?

This guide will go over what you need to know before you make a decision.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Assisted Living Costs and AffordabilityAre you considering assisted living for yourself or a loved one but are hesitant about the cost? Assisted living costs, services and amenities vary greatly among the last and most expensive communities, and costs are higher in some states than others.

This guide will answer questions you may have about the costs of assisted living and recommend resources to help you pay for it.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Having “The Talk” With Your Parent: It’s Time for Assisted Living
Talking to your aging parent about moving to an assisted living community isn’t easy.

Often, many adult children avoid bringing it up because it can be a sensitive topic.

This guide will provide you with helpful tips and insight on how to have a productive conversation with your parent and siblings regarding your parent’s future.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

Instant Access to Free Guide

 

The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-The Challenges of Aging: How to Handle Your Aging Parent’s Difficult BehaviorsDifficult behaviors in elderly adults are very common. They may be an expression of frustration your loved one feels or a symptom of early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

This guide will provide you with skills and knowledge on how to handle difficult behaviors your aging parent may be experiencing.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Becoming a Family Caregiver: What You Need to Know Before Deciding to Take Care of a Loved One
Becoming a family caregiver can be a rewarding experience. It also has its challenges.

There are many questions to answer before making the decision to take care of a loved one.

This guide will provide answers to questions you may have on this topic.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Helping Your Parent Manage DepressionIs your parent or loved one depressed, or just in a bad mood?

What does medication and illness have to do with depression?

How can you help? In this guide, you will be provided with answers to the difficult questions you may have about depression.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Is It Depression? A Guide to Identifying and Addressing Depression in Aging AdultsHas your aging parent recently lost interest in activities they used to enjoy? Have you noticed a change in their mood and behavior?

This guide will provide you with resources and tools on how to identify depression, what are the common causes of depression, and how to promote mental health in your aging loved one.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Assisted Living Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Does your loved one need more support than what they are getting? Would they benefit from some assistance with daily activities?

In this guide, you’ll find answers to the most common questions asked about assisted living.


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Why We Chose the Arbors Assisted Living and Memory Care: A Collection of Stories from Residents Living at The ArborsWhere do you start searching for assisted living or memory care communities?

What qualities in a community should you look for? How do you know you made the right decision?


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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-7 Warning Signs It’s Time to Make the Move to Assisted Living
Has your dad stopped getting together for lunches or outings with friends or visits with neighbors? Have you stopped enjoying time with your parents because you’re a caregiver?

Choosing an assisted living community is a big decision. Learn how to find the right one for you and your loved one.


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Guide-Getting Your Affairs in Order
No one ever plans to be sick or disabled, and disasters, man-made or natural, can happen at any time, anywhere.

Yet older adults are among the most vulnerable during a crisis. That’s why it’s critical that seniors, and those who care for them, prepare for emergencies.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-Guide to Making the Move to Assisted Living
Moving to assisted living is a life-changing event.

This guide provides tips and ideas on downsizing, what to pack and how to make the transition smooth for your senior parent.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

Instant Access to Free Guide

 

Guide-Solutions to Common Caregiving ChallengesIn this eBook, you’ll learn how to talk with family and friends about caregiving challenges, how to deal with a parent who is resistant to help, how to get more caregiving help from your siblings, and how to keep your job while caregiving.


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How Moving My Loved One to The Arbors Eliminated My Caregiving ChallengesHave you had to cut back your hours at work to care for your mom? Are you worried about administering medications or injections?

Have you stopped getting together with friends, either because you don’t have the time or you’re too exhausted? Are you becoming the invisible second patient?


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-When is the Right Time for Memory Care?In this guide, you’ll learn about the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, including the early symptoms of dementia; the seven stages of dementia and the symptoms that typically accompany each one; and the signs it’s time to start exploring your memory care options.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-What to Look for in a Memory Care CommunityIn this guide, you’ll learn about the difference between assisted living and memory care, how healthcare professionals are trained in dementia care, common features of a memory care community, and questions you should ask when exploring your memory care options.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

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Guide-Brothers and Sisters
Navigating adult sibling relationships can be a challenge, but coming together for the sake of your parent is important.

In this guide, you’ll learn about common sibling conflicts that arise when caring for parents, strategies for getting siblings on board, and where to turn to for help.


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Guide-The StandoffAssisted living can be a touchy subject. No matter how you approach it, your parent is likely to have objections to something.

As you help them transition to a new stage of life, it helps to be prepared with answers to their questions and concerns.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

Instant Access to Free Guide

 

Guide-11 Most Common Caregiving Challenges
A Guide to the Most Common Family Caregiver Challenges Associated with Caring for an Aging Parent.

You’ll learn about the true costs of being a family caregiver, common family conflicts that can occur when caring for parents, and some of the unexpected challenges of caregiving.


NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

Instant Access to Free Guide

 

Guide-Checklist_ Questions to Ask When Touring an Assisted Living Community
This checklist will help to make sure you are getting the most out of your visit to The Arbors.

The list details what important questions to ask during your visit so you are able to make an enlightened choice and find the best assisted living community for your needs.

NOTE: Your privacy is important to us. We’ll never share your details nor spam your inbox.

Instant Access to Free Guide

 

Guide-What is Assisted Living Really LikeIf you’re unsure what Assisted Living looks like in real life, whether there is a difference with nursing homes or a desire to see how community life unfolds, then this guide is exactly what you need.

A guide to discover the Care Team and a Typical Day in Assisted Living.

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Instant Access to Free Cost Comparison guide

You’re probably wondering how much the different senior living options compare to your current situation.
If you do, then this guide is exactly what you need.


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