The importance of family in ensuring seniors receive the emotional support, decision-making assistance, and reassurance they need when they move to a senior living community cannot be overemphasized. At Heartis Peoria, our community is designed for connection, and we make it easy for your family to remain an integral part of your everyday life. Our community spaces and comfortable apartments are perfect for spending precious time with loved ones.
There is already a huge amount of family involvement in care in Illinois, with AARP reporting that 23% of adults in the state currently provide care to relatives. When the time comes for your beloved parents or relatives to transition to senior care, few settings can beat Peoria. Its riverside setting, museums, botanical garden, and lake make it the perfect location for rewarding family outings.
In most situations, family members are the people physically and emotionally closest to the elderly person. This means the family is best positioned to understand their daily care needs and sense when it is time to provide additional care.
The roles individual family members take depend entirely on the dynamics of the family. Often, the adult children are most closely involved in seniors' care, although grandchildren, siblings, and other relatives may also take on caregiving roles. The AP's Long-Term Care Poll found that in two-thirds of families, caring responsibilities are shared, while in the remainder, they are carried out by just one person.
Providing care outside of senior living can take a huge toll on family members and seniors alike. Therefore, there can be a very positive link between senior living and relationships.
Adult children and grandchildren are able to provide excellent emotional support to their loved ones while someone else takes care of personal care. Relationships may improve as the pressure is taken off the carer, and the parent no longer feels bad that their child is caring for them.
During their regular visits, families can provide crucial emotional support in the following ways:
Family involvement in care is beneficial at the transition stage and beyond. To ward off any feelings of isolation, it may be good to visit more regularly at first. Then you can settle into a pattern that works well for your family and your loved one.
Seniors feel well supported when their family members take an active interest in their care. Family support is also beneficial for the caregiver team at Heartis Peoria. We value family input when preparing personalized care plans.
Family involvement is crucial throughout the time seniors spend with us. If your loved one is diagnosed with a memory condition, we will work collaboratively with you to determine whether the time is right to transition from assisted living to memory care.
Senior living communities help families to spend quality time together. At Heartis Peoria, you may be able to enjoy a meal together in our restaurant-style dining room, play games in the communal areas, or take a stroll through our beautiful grounds.
Also, if your loved one is well enough to get out and about, there is so much to explore in the Peoria area. There are great areas to eat, stunning riverside walks, and museums that will delight the entire family.
There is no single age when it is right for seniors to transition to assisted living. It's about recognizing that the time has come to provide more support.
Assisted living is for seniors who are largely independent but need assistance with one or more of the activities of daily living.These include:
If you notice that your loved one is struggling with one or more of these activities, it's the right time to discuss assisted living. It is much better to be proactive than to wait for a fall or another emergency to force the transition.
Family members are welcome to visit their loved ones as often as they like in our community. The flexible spaces at Heartis Peoria, such as our outdoor seating and walking areas, library nooks, and spacious apartments, are perfect for spending quality time together.
Enjoy a movie together, play a game, or look at old family photos together to stimulate joyful memories and rewarding conversations.
It's not always possible for families to live close to each other, but modern technologies make it easier to keep the bonds strong. Establish a regular routine of phone calls or video chats that let your loved one know you are thinking about them and care. Caregiving staff can assist your loved one with any technological challenges.
For seniors with memory challenges, helping them delve into the past can be particularly enjoyable. Prompts like "Tell me about your first job" or "What was your favorite spot growing up?" can lead to fun conversations and are less stressful than talking about recent events for many seniors.
Some families may have natural concerns about their loved ones transitioning to senior care, fearing that it will make it harder to remain connected. However, at Heartis Peoria, rest assured that we want you to remain an integral part of your loved one's life. We welcome family members, keep them in the loop, and facilitate enjoyable times together.
One of the key features of our provision is our connected communities. The importance of family involvement in decisions about assisted living and memory care cannot be overstated. We will actively collaborate with you at every step of your loved one's journey.
Reach out today to learn more about the importance of family in senior living.