Signs your Senior Could Benefit from In-Home Care

Many people enjoy the comfort and familiarity of their own home as they age. Aging in place has become common and allows seniors to retain much of their independence. However, as they get older and encounter more health issues, it may be necessary to provide some assistance. In-home care can be an effective way of providing your senior with the help they need while allowing them to stay in their own home for as long as possible.

Recognizing the signs that more care is needed can help you to remain proactive and keep your senior safe. In-home caregivers can provide a wide range of services that give your senior the support they need while enabling them remain fairly independent. Here are some signs that could indicate it is time to consider seeking an in-home care program:

• Decreased mobility
• Confusion or memory loss
• Weight loss
• Missing appointments
• Loneliness or depression
• Trouble maintaining personal hygiene
• Not keeping up with housework
• Vision problems
• Forgetting to take medication or not taking it properly

Home Care

A caregiver can help with basic chores around the home and keeping the house in order to reduce risk of falls. Making simple repairs and changing lightbulbs or batteries in smoke detectors can enhance safety measures. They can take your senior shopping for groceries and help with simple meal preparation to ensure they are getting the right nutrition and eating properly.

Health and Wellbeing

When it comes to their health, the caregiver can provide transportation to and from appointments, make sure that medication is taken as prescribed, and be alert for any changes in their physical or mental wellbeing. Sometimes limited mobility can make it more difficult to complete certain tasks but doesn’t necessarily mean that your senior shouldn’t be living on their own. In-home care can assist them with these activities.

Companionship

It can also be nice for your senior to have some companionship. Someone to eat dinner with, play games or go to community events with, and talk to. This can help to ward off depression and loneliness because they know that someone will be there to check in on them and spend time with them. Family members can have business schedules and may not be able to visit as frequently as they would like, so having another person who is available can relieve stress.

Talking to your Senior

Bringing up the idea of in-home care can be a sensitive subject. Talk to your senior about the challenges or changes you have been noticing and how a caregiver could help in these areas. They would still be able to remain in their home and keep their independence, just with some support. Be respectful and work with them to determine how much assistance they may need. Help keep you senior safer as they age in place by finding an in-home care provider that can work with your senior’s needs and lifestyle by providing the assistance they require.