3 Ways to Know if it’s Time For Home Care

If your elderly parent, spouse, or loved one is living independently in their home, there will come a time when they will need assistance with daily living.

For many families, the decision to hire home care is not always an easy one, especially if your loved one maintains that they are fine on their own. So when is it time to insist on hiring a caregiver?

Difficulty with mobility

Physical demands are becoming too hard to manage alone. Perhaps there is a chronic health condition, or there has been a fall, or you or your loved one is recovering from an illness. Or, maybe getting around independently is just becoming unsafe. An in home caregiver can ensure:

• The home is safe to maneuver in. The caregiver can remove any obstacles in the way of getting around the home. They can provide that second set of eyes to determine if using stairs are safe, if there need to be any handicap additions to the bathroom or otherwise to help avoid falls.
• All evolving physical needs are met, be it help getting up and around, in the restroom, getting dressed or just around the house. Light housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation and general companionship are offered as well.
• Caregivers provide constant communication, assessments and feedback for family and doctors about how your loved one’s mental and physical abilities are on a daily basis. This takes the guesswork and worry away for family members, and eliminates them having to wonder what’s going on in the house.

There are signs of memory loss

It’s natural for us to be forgetful from time to time. But when memory loss creates extensive confusion and an unsafe environment, it’s imperative that home care be provided to keep you or your loved one safe.

• We’ve seen seniors forget to turn off their cars and ovens, forget to lock doors and even wander away from the house unexpectedly. An in home caregiver will eliminate the risk of something dangerous happening due to memory loss.
• You may notice household chores have gone by the wayside or that there are bills piling up. Talk with your doctor and arrange an assessment to see how severe the memory loss is and what steps should be taken to ensure safety.
• If you or your loved one is losing things more often it is likely that memory loss is becoming more prevalent. The last thing we want is for our seniors to feel confused, and having someone there will alleviate those feelings.

Social interaction has declined.

If issues like the above are developing, it’s possible that there will be a good amount of withdrawal from social activities.

• Our clients often feel embarrassed about the new changes and challenges they are facing in this stage of life. Oftentimes there are issues with incontinence, personal hygiene, and an overall sense of wanting to hide.
• Because of this embarrassment some will begin to isolate themselves. While some alone time is good, too much is unhealthy and can create larger mental health issues.
• Depression and anxiety are not strangers to aging. It is crucial that not only the physical health of our seniors is taken care of, but that emotional and mental health is assessed as well. A caregiver will be that “finger on the pulse”m so to speak and be able to advocate for their senior.