Keep Communications Open for Asheville Seniors with Hearing Loss

As seniors age, they sometimes trade their accumulated memories, accomplishments and wisdom for more difficulty accomplishing everyday tasks and chores.  The trained caregivers who provide the senior care Asheville NC seniors receive through Always Best Care prepare a personalized plan Read more
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Should Your Senior Still Be Driving?

Just because your parent reaches a certain age doesn’t necessarily mean you should take away their car keys. Many seniors are actually fairly good drivers because they have years of experience. But when their health and memory begin to deteriorate, it may be time to re-evaluate the situation.

Take your senior out and let them drive. Travel on local roads as well as the highway to see how they do going both slow and fast and with varying amounts of traffic. This can give you more insight into things you should be concerned about. You may find that you don’t have to take their car keys away completely yet, but simply limit them to driving short distances, only during the daytime, or not on the highway.

However, there are some things that should send up red flags and make you carefully evaluate whether or not they should get behind the wheel:

• Vision or hearing problems. While driving, you must be constantly aware of what is going on around you. Vision problems can make it more difficult to safely change lanes, read street signs, or see obstacles in the roadway. Not being able to hear sirens or honking that can indicate danger puts more emphasis on vision and mental alertness.
• Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. Memory problems can mean getting lost even in familiar locations. Also, if your loved one suddenly loses focus or becomes confused, they may pose a threat to themselves or others on the road. There is also the risk of confusing the gas and brake pedal and accidently pressing the wrong one.
• Medications. Certain medications can make your senior drowsy or slow down their reaction time. In the event of an emergency, they may not be able to respond quickly enough to avoid danger. Or, they could nod off behind the wheel which can lead to an accident. It’s a good idea to talk to their doctor and ask about any risks medications can pose to driving.
• Dents or scratches on the car. If you notice that the car is already getting dinged up, it may be a sign that your senior shouldn’t be driving any longer. They may downplay these incidents because they don’t want to lose their independence, but it should be a cause for concern.

It can be a difficult topic to bring up, but one that is very important. You want to ensure that your senior is safe and not driving when they shouldn’t be. Public transportation could be one alternative option if there are services nearby. Hiring an in-home caregiver can also reduce the need of your loved one to go out as often. A caregiver can escort them on outings, assist with shopping, and attend various events with them. Your senior can continue to live an active life regardless of whether or not they drive.

Contact Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville at (828) 989-7263 or visit us online to learn more about our in-home care and senior services and how they can benefit your loved one.

6 Signs it May be Time to Consider Assisted Living

Many adults prefer to stay in their own home as they age, and that’s often a possibility. As long as they are physically and mentally able to safely live there, they can age in place. As they get older, an in-home care provider can provide the support and assistance they need to remain independent. However, there often comes a time when in-home care is not enough and seniors require more intensive care. When this is the case, it may be time to consider transitioning to an assisted living facility.

Here are six signs that it may be time to consider assisted living:

1. Your loved one can’t keep up with their home. Are there stacks of bills or dirty dishes laying around? Do they have trouble keeping up with laundry or taking the trash out? Their home may have become too much to manage and downsizing into an assisted living facility can be beneficial. Here they will have much less to keep track of and receive assistance as needed.

 

2. Your senior has difficulty with activities of daily living. Whether you notice that they haven’t bathed in a few days or are typically wearing the same clothes over again, changes in personal hygiene can be a sign that more help is needed. They may have difficulty brushing their teeth or hair, or working the washing machine.

3. Your loved one has memory problems. Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and memory loss can make caring for themselves more difficult. They may forget whether they’ve taken their medication, where they put their keys, or how to get to and from the store.

4. Your senior has become more accident prone. If mom or dad seems to be tripping and falling more often or has unexplained bruises, their home may not be as safe of a place anymore. Mobility issues can make navigating stairs or getting in and out of the shower more dangerous.

5. Your loved one has been losing or gaining weight. Is their refrigerator full of spoiled food, or have very little food at all? Meal preparation can be tough when vision, memory, or dexterity are compromised. Your senior may have forgotten they’ve already eaten or prepare unhealthy foods as well. Furthermore, if they’re forgetting to turn off the stove or oven, that can be a fire hazard.

6. Your senior is becoming more isolated. Did you parent used to spend time with friends or at the community center and now they hardly leave their home? Assisted living can help them to become more social once again and get involved in a variety of activities. They’ll be able to have more regular social interactions.

Assisted living can allow your loved one to maintain some of their independence while also receiving the level of support and care they need to stay safe and healthy. Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville not only provides in-home care services, but also offers complimentary assisted living placement services. When your senior is ready to make that transition, Always Best Care is here to help. Call (828) 989-7263 or visit us online for more information.