Senior Living Expert Addresses Challenges Baby Boomers Face Caring For Elderly Parents

TUSTIN, CA, December 22, 2012 (Press-News.org) People are living longer than ever and nearly 10 million baby boomers over 50 are caring for an aging parent, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The holidays present an opportunity to recognize signs that assisted living may be the best environment for a loved one, or a time to have a family discussion about living opportunities. Monica Castillo of Vintage Senior Living, headquartered in Newport Beach, offers the following signs of what to look for during holiday celebrations:

• Nutrition and medication: It can become more difficult with age to cook healthy, nutritious meals and remember to take all the appropriate medications and vitamins. It's not easy to ask for help, and families need to consider their options if a loved one's health and well-being seems to be declining.

• Routine tasks are now overwhelming: Every year Mom prepares a delicious Christmas meal, buys presents and decorates the house with ease and a smile; but this year she seems to be completely overwhelmed with each holiday tradition.

• House cleanliness: When visiting Grandma over the holidays, family might notice that things seem very out of place. A common sign of struggle for many seniors is the inability to maintain a home's upkeep and it becomes a burden to many seniors.

Convincing elderly loved ones to move from the comfort of the home they've known for many years into an assisted living situation can be one of the toughest hurdles for families to overcome. Castillo is very familiar with this bittersweet topic. With extensive experience in helping seniors and their families successfully transition into an assisted living community, Castillo offers the following advice to keep in mind during the holidays as senior health issues sometimes become more apparent:

• Plan ahead, start the conversation and know the benefits of an assisted living community -- Unfortunately, the need for assisted living is often forced upon a family during a crisis. Proactively plan for the future and understand how an assisted living community improves life for aging loved ones and the family. If it's too late and a crisis occurs, consider what is best for the senior, putting emotions of guilt aside. Professionals in a senior living community can then help you return to the role of family member, and not simply caregiver.

• Understand the difference between assisted living communities and nursing homes -- Nursing homes focus entirely on around-the-clock medical care. Assisted living communities support seniors with assistance with activities of daily living e.g. medication management while maximizing their independence with a host of specifically designed accommodations and services. Assisted living offers seniors the chance to maintain their independence while opening the door to socialization to avoid isolation.

• Know how assisted living communities have changed over the years -- Communities with high standards in senior care have become social models for enhancing a loved one's quality of life, which leads to peace of mind for seniors and family members.

• Consider the following thoughts going through an aging loved one's mind -- Sadness and resistance related to leaving a home rich with fond memories and friends, stress from making major changes and financial decisions, a deep sense of loss and depression, and fear of the unknown are all common reactions to expect.

• Spend time researching in order to find an assisted living community that meets a loved one's needs and tastes - Does the architectural style, location, overall feel, floor plan, apartment and other accommodations appeal to his/her interests? Consider the quality of the social and exercise programs, menu and dinning arrangements as well as the overall facility maintenance. Take tours and pay close attention to how staff members interact with residents and visiting family members.

About Vintage Senior Living:
Vintage Senior Living is a family of retirement communities. Established in 1998, Vintage Senior Living offers a vibrant senior living lifestyle specializing in independent senior living, assisted living and memory care services for Alzheimer's and other dementia. Its mission is to help residents thrive in mind, body and spirit through the dedication of its staff and the excellence of its programs. Vintage Senior Living operates a total of 24 communities with 23 throughout California in addition to its retirement community in Tacoma, Wash. For more information, visit http://www.vintagesenior.com, YouTube or Twitter.