Signs Your Aging Loved One Is In Need of In-Home Care

Signs Your Aging Loved One Is In Need of In-Home Care | HealthSoul

People age differently, so many elderly people might be able to live independently while others might need help earlier on. As your parents or loved ones age, they might start requiring special care. If they are living at home, you might be the one caring for them and their health. There might come a time when you need a professional to take care of your loved one. You can get them the appropriate care right in their home with the many in-home care options available such as Husky Senior Care. Here are some signs you should look out for that might indicate that your aging loved one is in need of in-home care.

Poor personal hygiene

Poor hygiene can be a sign that an elderly needs constant in-home care. There might be several reasons for the hygiene issue, such as your loved not feeling safe going to the bathroom alone due to physical problems. There might even be memory issues involved where the elderly individual does not remember to take a bath, comb their hair or change their clothes.

Lack of home cleanliness and maintenance

Just like poor personal hygiene, a cluttered and dirty home might be an indication of the elderly facing mobility or cognition problems. A dusty house, unwashed dishes, unpaid bills, and other similar everyday chores left unattended might be a sign of your loved one needing more care and help. As people age, doing chores become more taxing and in-home care can take away that stress of keeping up a home’s maintenance.

Accidents

Accidents are an obvious sign that the elderly require in-home care. If your loved one has been falling frequently, it might be an indication of weakness or cognitive issues. Falling is dangerous as it can lead to more severe injuries. While you search for in-home care, check for any fall hazards in your parent’s home, such as stairs or clutter, and remove them or try to make them safer.

Missing medications

Missing prescribed medications or taking the wrong dosage at the wrong time can cause serious problems for the elderly. So, check your loved one’s medications and make sure they are organized in a weekly pillbox. If your loved one keeps forgetting to take the required medication, an in-home caregiver can help with the management of medication among other things.

Loneliness

Loneliness and social isolation has been found to have serious health risks for the elderly. Loneliness can have a great impact on one’s emotional and physical well-being. It can reduce their quality of life and increase the chances of dementia and depression. If your loved one has become less active and social than they used to be, you might have to intervene. In-home caregivers can help them improve the social aspect of their life, especially if mobility is one of the factors affecting their ability to socialize.

Conversations about in-home care can be difficult to have with your elderly loved ones. They might not want to admit that they need help or might not want a stranger to disrupt their daily routines. If you believe in-home care can improve their everyday life and provide a sense of safety, you should bring up the subject gradually. They will eventually come around to the idea and realize there is no harm in asking for help.