Taking care of an aging relative as they live with moderate to serious health issues can be a big challenge, and that’s why so many families are turning to senior care providers. With so many developments in an elderly adult’s life regarding their health, it makes sense for them to rely on some kind of in-home care beyond a family member.
Senior care providers are professionals that make it possible for aging adults to live at home instead of elsewhere. But when is it the proper time for family caregivers to hire in-home care for their elderly loved one? Here are some signs and signals that an aging relative may need more than occasional care from a family caregiver.
Hygiene and Grooming Decline
Perhaps the easiest area to detect a decline is by assessing an elderly relative’s grooming and hygiene. They may be struggling to dress in the morning and therefore stay in the same dirty clothes for several days. Seniors often have a hard time bathing or showering on their own, or doing daily tasks like brushing their hair and teeth. Staying neat and clean is important for overall health, but aging adults who fall short of that standard may need in-home help.
Junk Food and Empty Shelves
Getting adequate nutrition is critical for seniors who want to be as healthy as possible, but often their chronic conditions interfere with things like grocery shopping and meal planning and preparation. Family caregivers may notice no fresh food in the refrigerator or on pantry shelves. They may also see lots of junk food, processed food and easy to open cans of food. A healthy diet is the key to overall wellness, and seniors who don’t have access to fresh and nutritious food will suffer in the long run.
Days and Nights Alone
If an elderly loved one is spending the majority of their days and/or nights alone, that could be a sign that they are too isolated from help when they need it. This means there’s nobody around to assess how they are doing with daily tasks or lend a hand when they struggle. Seniors may even hide the fact that they are having a hard time because they worry about the future.
Messy House
A home doesn’t have to be perfectly clean to be an acceptable place to live, but there is usually a difference between letting the place get some clutter and being extremely dirty. Family caregivers should look at things like dirty dishes in the sink, piles of dirty laundry, spilled food, dirty toilets and so forth to see whether their aging loved one is falling short in the housekeeping duties.
Family caregivers can’t ignore the evidence that is right in front of their eyes. When they notice that their elderly loved one isn’t doing well independently, it is time for in-home care. Senior care providers are an excellent alternative for aging adults who want to live at home but are not quite capable of living independently.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Morgan Hill, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
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