As frustrating as it might be, your senior might not be telling you everything that you need to know in order to help her. That means that sometimes family caregivers have to do a little bit of detective work. If you see any of the signs listed here, it may be time to hire home care assistance providers.
She’s Not Eating Well Or She’s Not Following Her Doctor’s Care Plan
When you and your elderly family member talk about food, does she mention what she’s eating? If it’s a lot of takeout or processed foods, she might not be getting the nutrients that she needs. On the other hand, some aging adults avoid talking about food altogether in hopes that you won’t notice or ask about what they’re eating. A healthy diet supports your senior’s overall well-being, so it’s vital that she’s got help with meals, grocery shopping, and more.
Another issue can arise if your elderly family member isn’t fully following her doctor’s care plan. That might mean that she’s not taking medications that she should be taking or that she’s avoiding physical activity or dietary changes. What’s most important about this is that your senior’s doctor is recommending these changes for a reason. For her health, she may need assistance in following that plan. Home care Assitance providers can help your elderly family member to stick to a routine that makes following that plan easier.
Home Care Assistance Aides Help When her Home Is Looking Different than Usual
It takes a lot more energy and time to take care of a home than most people realize until something happens. For your senior, aging and health issues can zap a lot of her energy and make it difficult for her to keep up with tasks she’s handled for years. Home care assitance providers can take some of that load off her shoulders, which helps to ensure that your senior’s home is both clean and safe for her.
She’s Not Going Anywhere or She’s Not Letting You Visit
Are you starting to notice that your elderly family member isn’t going anywhere anymore? This can happen gradually, especially for seniors who feel unsafe driving or who are finding it more difficult to be as mobile as they once were. Home care assitance can help your elderly family member to get out and about if she still wants to, and they can offer companionship if getting out more is really too much for her right now.
If you feel like you don’t know much about any of these situations, that might be for a specific reason. Your elderly family member might not be letting you see how she’s living out of fear that some of the things about her life will change and she doesn’t want that to happen. But if you’re not able to see what’s going on in your elderly family member’s life, you’re also not as able to help her as you could be. It might be time to dig a little deeper.
Try to open a dialogue with your senior about what’s going on in her life. The better you understand the challenges that she is facing, the easier it is for you to put plans in place that truly serve your elderly family member.
