The Arbor Company Senior Living Blog

Seniors don’t lose their desire to lead rich, fulfilling, active lives just because their bodies begin failing. Yet many seniors find that aging continually erodes their independence. This can be a demoralizing and painful process for seniors and the people who love them.

The holiday season is upon us, which means many of us will be piling into cars or boarding airplanes to head home in celebration. If your holiday schedule lets you stop by to spend time with your senior loved one, you have an opportunity to not only catch up and spread some love, but also to evaluate their health and living situation. Whether you live near your senior loved one or many states away, these are a few signs that your loved one may not be thriving in the current living situation.

Your aging parents might not be able to do everything they once did, but that doesn’t mean it’s time for them to give up on mastering new skills. Physical and mental activity can improve your parents’ health and quality of life, help them live longer, and make sure they always have something interesting to do.

Would you be surprised to learn that most people who live in assisted living communities are in excellent, very good, or good health? Or that one review found that a fifth of assisted living residents were younger than 74?