When Does Your Senior Parent Need More Assistance?

When a parent prefers to age in place, there are many things you can do to help support them and make living at home as easy as possible. One of those things is to look for signs that they may need additional assistance or in-home care. As parents age and live on their own, they may begin to face new mobility and medical issues that make it more difficult to perform daily activities. 

But there are some easy-to-spot signs that can help you identify their changing needs. When it comes to home care, Asheville families can start by looking for these common signals, so they can act fast and offer support to help their parents in any way they need. Here are some signs that your parents might benefit from additional assistance around their house.

The home is more cluttered than usual. If your parents tend to keep a clean home but suddenly it has become more disorganized, this might be a warning sign. They could begin to lose interest in keeping up a neat house, which is an especially important signal if your parent has always been orderly.

Missing appointments. Not being able to access proper transportation, or being unable to drive might lead an elderly loved one to miss important appointments. They may need assistance in getting to and from medical visits, social gatherings, or other meet-ups that are important to them and their health.

Reduced hygiene. Unkempt hair, long finger nails, poor dental care, body odor, or wearing the same clothes without washing could be signs that your loved one is having difficulty maintaining their hygiene. They could be afraid of falling in a tub or shower, or painful joints might make it difficult to open soap bottles. 

Bills or mail is piling up. The act of opening or filing mail might become too overwhelming, or paying bills on time has become difficult. Over time, managing a bank account could also become too much for an elderly loved one to handle. Take note if mail seems unusually disorganized.

Food in the home is spoiled or left uneaten. Cooking, cleaning, or shopping could become difficult to do. Painful joints, impaired driving, or weakened vision could all make it more challenging to do these tasks. Food could be forgotten about, not taken care of properly, or uneaten food might signal a poor appetite. 

Scorched pans or pots. Short-term memory loss could make it easy to forget about food on the stove. This could be a warning sign that your loved one is having difficulty remembering things; it could also be a dangerous fire hazard. 

Unusual behavior. Consider if neighbors have noticed anything unusual about your loved one. For example, he or she might be dressing inappropriately for the seasonal weather. Uncharacteristic behavior might signal confusion and that your parent could benefit from some extra help around the house. 

Not addressing home maintenance needs. A parent might not recognize the need to fix a problem, like a leaky pipe or a broken door. Even if they acknowledge the problem, they may not call to schedule repairs. Look for unkempt lawns, old trash piling up, or piled up mail outside the home. 

If any of these signs are present, consider if your parent would enjoy having some extra help around the home. When providing elder care, Asheville families should start by heeding these signals and finding ways to help their parents get around more easily and safely by offering more comprehensive assistance. 

The Best Way to Celebrate This Valentine’s Day With Your Senior

If your senior is in an assisted living facility or is mostly homebound, you may worry that they’re missing out on the love and joy that comes with Valentine’s Day. However, regardless of how mobile your elderly loved one is, you can help to bring them a special holiday at a relatively low price point this year. The following activities will get them into the Valentine’s Day spirit:

Encourage young family members to create homemade valentines

Your senior will delight over getting a few handmade valentines to celebrate the special day. Whether they’re store-bought or colored with markers at home, a reminder that they are loved will be important to your elderly loved one during this time.

Have them make valentines for others

Part of the fun in Valentine’s Day comes in spreading the love to others. Help your senior make some valentines for the people closest to them. Bring over plenty of construction paper, stickers, glitter, and other materials, and get to work creating notes of affection for family members, friends, and even in-home care professionals. They don’t have to be perfect, just full of love and appreciation.

Bake Valentine’s Day cookies

A sweet treat is the perfect way to commemorate the holiday. Professionals who care for the elderly explain that this project is easy to do regardless of where your elderly loved one is living. Bake sugar cookies and decorate them with pink and red icing. You can even buy plain cookies from the store and just get to work on personalizing them. 

Decorate

According to elder care services professionals, decorating your senior’s living space for the occasion can also get them into the spirit. Hang some streamers, paper hearts, and other festive items, or consider purchasing pink and red candles. These small touches will make a major difference. 

Remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love for a partner. Even if your loved one’s significant other has since passed away, they can enjoy celebrating love for friends and family members. Help them to enjoy this day and remind them how loved they truly are. 

How Can Non-Medical In-Home Care Reduce Hospital Readmissions?

The professionals at Always Best Care Asheville have assisted numerous seniors with the transition from the hospital back into their homes. In most cases this is a joyous occasion, as elderly individuals are frequently ecstatic to finally return to the comfort of their own beds and familiar surroundings; however, hospital readmissions are high when seniors lack the support necessary to make this transition in a positive, healthy manner. You see, elderly individuals frequently need a bit of extra help with regard to home care when they leave the hospital. With the assistance of non-medical care professionals, tasks like grooming and dressing can change from daunting and potentially dangerous to simple activities.

Where Is the Danger in This Transition?
The first thought that comes to mind when seniors are told they are going home after a hospital stay is frequently, "Finally!" After days or even weeks in a medical facility, getting home is often the first priority of elderly individuals. But the truth is that this is not as simple a task as it may seem at first glance.

After a senior leaves the hospital they are often vulnerable. For instance, they may find it more difficult to navigate their home if they are using a wheelchair, walker, or cane. Additionally, they may face challenges when getting dressed or executing personal hygiene activities, such as bathing, if they are facing a reduction in their range of motion. As such, trying to jump into their old routine on their own can prove dangerous, and can lead to hospital readmissions if seniors fall, open their stitches, or have other types of accidents.

Elder Care: A Wonderful Solution
For seniors who are physically ready to leave the hospital but not yet strong enough to navigate life on their own, non-medical in-home care is a fantastic solution. Through this form of elder care, seniors can receive assistance with the activities of daily living while they continue to heal and regain their strength. Dressing, grooming, bathing, meal preparation, and even light housework are all activities that senior care professionals can perform to help your loved one ease into life at home rather than jump into their old habits.