For many families, one of the most challenging things is simply determining how much care their senior loved ones need. Some seniors may be fine living at home and getting occasional check-ins from friends, while others may need around-the-clock care. There are several factors to consider when figuring out which option is right for your loved one. Here are some tips for assessing your loved one’s care needs.
Talk to the Doctor about Any Chronic Illnesses
An important part of figuring out a senior’s care needs is looking at his or her physical health. Talk to the doctor about any diagnosed conditions your loved one has. Ask if these conditions will get worse over time or remain stable to help you decide how much care your parent requires. Discuss how much help your loved one needs with managing the symptoms. If your parent will be taking multiple prescriptions, he or she may need a caregiver to provide medication reminders.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional senior care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
See How Well Your Loved One Can Perform Daily Living Activities
An important part of any assessment is looking into whether a senior can perform daily activities. Consider whether your loved one can bathe, dress him or herself, do laundry, cook, and go shopping. Keep in mind there’s a spectrum of abilities across all tasks. Some seniors may just need caregivers to run errands and do weekly grocery shopping. Others may require live-in help to assist with things like brushing teeth, using the toilet, and eating meals.
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Roseville home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
Consider Your Loved One’s Ability to Move Around
The ability to move will affect whether your loved one needs a caregiver to help each day. Your loved one may just need a caregiver to visit for regular baths or require help with things like moving from room to room. Seniors who are mostly bedbound or confined to wheelchairs typically need daily care.
Determine Your Loved One’s Level of Cognitive Function
Even when seniors are physically healthy, their cognitive health can greatly affect their care needs. If your loved one is mostly aware of his or her surroundings and only has some slight confusion, he or she may be fine with weekly visits from a caregiver. Seniors who need regular prompting and put themselves in unsafe situations may need daily care. In some cases, cognitive issues are severe enough to require around-the-clock care.
Look at the Safety of the Home
When trying to determine your loved one’s care needs, you should consider more than just his or her health. Assess the home to see if it’s suitable for an aging adult. You may need to install handrails, raised toilet seats, and better lighting. If the home has a large number of stairs, uneven flooring, or extremely narrow hallways, your loved one may need to be moved to a safer environment.
If your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, the Roseville, CA, live-in care professionals at Home Care Assistance are here to help. Our proprietary Balanced Care Method was designed to promote longevity by encouraging seniors to focus on healthy eating, regular exercise, mental engagement, and other important lifestyle factors. Call Home Care Assistance today at (916) 226-3737 to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.