Pets welcome at many assisted living residences

Most people want to "age at home," understandably so. On the other hand, there are many positives associated with an assisted living residence.

  

One of the objections I've heard from several clients is that they would never dream of leaving their pets. I'm on the same page as far as that goes: I have pets at home who I treasure. What few people know is that there are many pet-friendly assisted living residences in Florida, so you need not leave Fido behind.

Assisted living allows you as much freedom or assistance as you desire. You might benefit from living in an assisted living community if you need or want some extra help with housekeeping, or with personal tasks like bathing or getting yourself to and from appointments. You don't have to worry about cooking. It also can provide activities and opportunities for socialization, which can diminish if you're living at home but not able to easily get out and about.

Here are some questions to ask yourself (or your parent) to determine if assisted living may be right for you. (Thanks to http://www.helpguide.org/ )

Do you need more help than family and friends are able to provide? Are the activities of daily living becoming stressful or overwhelming? If family or in-home help is not able to bridge the gap, assisted living is an option.

Do you feel lonely or isolated at home? Having an active social life is vital to your health and happiness. Being alone much of the time is a recipe for depression. The social aspect of assisted living is a huge benefit. Good facilities offer a range of social and recreational activities. And the community environment also gives the opportunity to make new friends.

Do you worry for your safety? Perhaps your mobility is limited, making it difficult to get out of bed by yourself, for example. Maybe you’re afraid of what might happen if you fell and couldn’t get up, or experience another problem and couldn’t get help.

Are you tired of maintaining a home? There are a lot of responsibilities that come with living in your own home. Assisted living facilities can provide a home-like atmosphere, without the work of cooking, cleaning, shopping for groceries, and doing laundry.

Is transportation an issue? Perhaps you’re having trouble driving or can no longer drive. If public transportation or another alternative isn’t easy and convenient, you may be increasingly housebound. Assisted living facilities offer transportation, so you can get where you need to go without having to rely on friends and family.

Veterans benefits for assisted living may also be available to help you cover the costs of assisted living, both for veterans and veterans' widows.

Of course, moving to any new environment always has its challenges. Here are some tips from the National Center for Assisted Living that will be helpful to you, and to your adult children, in preparing for the big move.