You may be visiting our website if you have an aging loved one with physical and cognitive deficits. While you may be able to care for your elderly loved one at home, you may not have the clinical skills nor financial resources to do so. Our blog posts reveal the physical and cognitive benefits of nursing home and assisted living placement. Your questions and concerns regarding physical, occupational, and speech therapies are addressed here, as well as your concerns about nutritional interventions and social activities offered in nursing homes. After reading our helpful posts, you'll feel more confident in making the right long-term care choice for your senior loved one.
Physical And Cognitive Benefits Of Long-Term Care Facilities
Wondering When Is The Right Time To Suggest In-Home Care To An Elderly Parent? Important Clues To Help You Decide
Alice Cox
Aging and the development of infirmities that make it difficult to manage alone are something that every human being must face as time goes by. But even though they know that to be true, adult children may still feel unsure of how they can best help their parent adjust to aging and physical or mental decline that will make it necessary to accept help. Since most adult children are still working and raising a family during this time, it can be difficult for them to take on the increasing care needs of their parents.
Even worse, many adult children live too far away from their elderly parent or parents to manage more than the occasional visit or daily phone conversation. No matter which situation you are in, your parent has probably already expressed their intention to remain in their own home as long as possible. This may have left you unsure how to determine when they will need help to do so.
If you are currently in this situation or believe you will be soon, here is some information that will help you determine when the time is right to insist that your parent begin to utilize an in-home care option.
When medication is not being managed safely
One of the first signs that your parent needs some help is when they become unable to manage their own medications. While forgetting to take a pill is an occasional occurrence for people of all ages, those who are experiencing mental decline may be missing doses regularly or taking them too often. Signs of medication issues include physical changes and forgetfulness, as well as finding that prescriptions are lasting too long between refills.
When visits to the doctor and basic needs can no longer be done on their own
Another signal that help is needed is when your parent or parents can no longer manage driving to the doctor or handling personal hygiene or basic errands on their own. If there are no other issues involved, an elderly parent with this problem may benefit from in-home care a few times a week to help with driving, bathing, grocery shopping, laundry, and other basic needs.
When the time is right, you can depend on a reputable in-home care service in your parent's area to provide skilled, compassionate care for your parent to help them remain in their own home for as long as possible.
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