Six Things Families Might Notice During Holiday Visits
The holidays are often the main chance family caregivers have to spend time in person with aging family members. These visits tend to reveal changes that aren’t easy to spot during phone calls or text messages. Noticing these signs doesn’t mean that seniors are in danger. But it can mean that they need more help. Home care assistance helps seniors manage the tasks that have become more difficult while they continue to age in place.
Food Issues
Food issues can be a huge problem for aging adults as daily tasks become more difficult to manage. Expired food, an empty pantry, and an unorganized fridge all indicate that seniors might have trouble with tasks like shopping, cooking, and keeping up with planning meals. If they’re also losing weight or aren’t interested in eating, these can also be signs that there might be more going on. Elder care providers can be a huge help with these tasks.
How the House Looks
If the house looks different than it usually does, seniors might not have the energy to keep up with household chores. Laundry piling up, clutter building, or general untidiness are all possible clues. Clutter can also cause seniors to trip, which can lead to significant injuries. Regular help with light housekeeping from home care assistance makes a huge difference.
Piles of Mail
Paperwork is drudgery for most people. Seniors might start ignoring mail or paperwork, which can create bigger problems. Offering to help sort through stacks of mail or papers can give seniors the support they need and also make the task more bearable. Sometimes what seniors really need is someone there with them to avoid boredom.
Personal Appearance
Changes in their personal appearance can also be important clues. Wearing the same clothes over and over or skipping showers could mean that grooming and bathing tasks have become more difficult. Sometimes these changes happen because seniors are exhausted, in pain, or worry that they’ll fall in the bathroom. Home care assistance makes it easier to manage everything related to hygiene and personal care tasks.
Memory and Mood
The holidays are a busy time, and spending time with a lot of people can cause mood changes. But if seniors are a lot more anxious or withdrawn than usual, they might need more support. Changes in memory or seeming more confused can be other signs of trouble. Comparing what they’ve seen before with what is happening during the visit can help family caregivers determine if they need to bring the topic up with seniors.
Mobility
Mobility changes often mean that seniors need additional support. If seniors can’t get around the house like they used to or they’re thinking about giving up driving, these changes can affect daily life. Talking honestly about what is becoming difficult helps family caregivers determine what solutions might be helpful, like having home care assistance take over the driving.
Visits over the holidays can’t show family caregivers everything that is going on, but they can offer some clues to start conversations. Home care assistance offers hands-on help that can remedy many of the issues seniors might be facing.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care assistance in Lafayette, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.