How do I know if I or a loved one can still live at home or should move to a retirement community?

Look for some of the following signs to guide you as to whether you or a loved one needs help:

• Requiring daily assistance with eating, dressing, bathing, or using the toilet.
• Forgetting to take medications or perhaps taking too many.
• Behaving in ways that could be harmful (to yourself or to others).
• Wandering away from home or frequent signs of memory loss.

If you find you or a family member need help, here are some options, one of which may suit your specific situation:

• Find the right skilled nursing facility if you or a loved one has suffered an illness or injury and requires rehabilitation and/or continuous medical care, whether for the short or long-term. Keep in mind that unfortunately there may be certain medical conditions that cause continued decline, regardless of the clinical solutions available.
• Move into an assisted living community, which offers independent living with assistance in the areas of housekeeping services, provision of meals, and personal care.
• Continue to live at home after recovering from an injury or illness, but bring in additional assistance such as home care professionals and/or utilize community services (Meals on Wheels, for instance).