Many elderly adults want to stay independent for as long as they can. If they can keep controlling every aspect of their life, things are generally great. But, what happens when an aging adult starts needing help immediately? Will they tell you? Since they might not say anything to their family members, it is up to you to recognize the signs that your elderly loved one needs help from senior home care sooner, rather than later.
Basic Tasks
How will you know when your elderly loved one needs help with basic tasks? Some of the things you will notice they are having issues with include:
- Talking
- Dressing
- Walking
- Climbing steps
- Cooking
- Eating
- Managing medications
If you start noticing these issues, it is time to get your elderly loved one senior home care services. These home care providers can cook for, talk to, dress, and help your elderly loved one in many other ways, too.
Hygiene Assistance
Have you noticed your elderly loved one needs help with their hygiene? You might notice they don’t bathe often enough. It might seem like their appearance is sloppy or they smell foul. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to check with your elderly loved one about getting home care services. Let them know it is okay that they aren’t able to do these things on their own anymore. Senior home care providers don’t mind helping senior citizens with these tasks.
Taking Care of Responsibilities
Has your elderly loved one been slacking on taking care of their responsibilities? Some of the things that you might notice include:
- Unopened mail
- Papers piling up on their coffee table
- Unreadable checkbook
- Unpaid bills
- Bank account overdrawn
- Utility bills overdue
- Prescriptions not being filled
- Not returning phone calls
- Dishes a mess
If you notice your elderly loved one needs help with these responsibilities, it would be a good idea to get them help from senior home care providers.
Health Changes
There may be a range of health changes that you notice in your elderly loved one, too, such as:
- Burns
- Problems swallowing
- Appetite changes
- Weight loss
- Incontinence
- Spilling things
- Muscle weakness
- Insomnia
- Memory loss
Have you noticed your elderly loved one displaying any of these health changes? If so, it may not be a bad idea to address these issues now.
Attitude Changes
Do you recognize attitude changes in your elderly loved one? Some of these changes that might be displayed include:
- Sadness
- Depression
- Feelings of despair
- Refusal to communicate
- Argumentativeness
- Emotional crisis
If these things are realized, it may be a cry for help. Talk to your elderly loved one to see if they need some assistance.
Conclusion
If you recognize any of these changes above, senior home care may not be the worst idea. If you need to know more about these services, don’t hesitate to let our team know today. We can help you decide if these services are right for your elderly loved one.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-aging-parent-needs-help
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Alamo, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.
