4 Questions That Determine If Your Loved One Needs Home Care

Most family’s wait until two common scenarios to occur before seeking professional caregiving: 1) a family caregiver is overwhelmed and they feel unable to do it all, or 2) there is a physical or mental crises. When family’s wait, everyone experiences increased stress, but waiting for a stressful situation isn’t a necessity. We can help family caregivers before tensions rise to a boil. If you take the time to look for small signs, we can provide a slow, easy transition into home care. These questions can provide clarity:

1. Does your parent have any chronic medical conditions? If so, are the medical issues being properly monitored? You may want to seek permission to talk to their doctor to understand the situation. Caregivers need to know what medications are prescribed, whether they are taken appropriately, and if they are being refilled on schedule. Home caregivers can ensure prescriptions are taken appropriately.
2. When you visit, does your loved one look well put together? Does the house look good? A medical diagnoses will often provide key insights into whether your loved one can keep up with daily activities, but medical diagnoses might come too late. Pay attention to smells and clutter. As a loved ones abilities of daily living diminish, there should be someone there to pick up the slack.
3. Is your or your loved one’s weight stable? Is there spoiled food in the refrigerator or on the counters? Weight fluctuations are mostly noticeable to family caregivers, but unsafe situations can occur prior to weight loss. Checking to see a properly stocked fridge with foods that haven’t spoiled is necessary.
4. Do you or your loved one have moods of loneliness, despair, depression, frustration, irritability, or anxiety? Is there fear or insecurity about going out of the house? Mental health is crucial for longevity. Seniors need activity, outdoors and social networks to age gracefully. When those tasks become more difficult, a little assistance goes a long way.

 

If the answer to these questions indicate a trend towards a decrease in your loved one’s quality of life, home care might be the perfect option. Home caregiving is a subtle and flexible way for seniors to get the care they need. Family’s can start with a free home care assessment to see what options are the best for them.