Do you know when your parents will need some additional care? They aren’t likely to tell you that they need help. Admitting that you need help is not easy for anyone, regardless of their age. It’s therefore the responsibility of family members to keep a close eye on their aging relatives and look out for signs that they might need support with their daily activities.
Seniors too yearn to remain independent for as long as they can. Often, aging people tend realize that they need assistance after something traumatic happens to them. It is therefore important to monitor your loved one’s wellbeing as early as possible and do some research on care option. Should a time come when they need help, you will be well prepared. Here are few ways to determine the type of care your loved one requires.
Pay Attention to Their General Health and Wellbeing
When you’re together, focus on how they perform normal tasks. If they have a chronic medical problem, make sure it’s being handled well. When it comes to mental health, look out for signs of cognitive impairment. If they were recently discharged from the hospital, pay close attention to their recovery process.
Look Out for Fresh Changes That Affect Their Daily Life
Some of these changes may include, finding it challenging to run errands or do household chores, loss of a loved one or little to no chances to socialize.
When looking at such factors, focus on how they can be affecting them emotionally and physically. This will give you more clarity on what type of care to provide for them.
Analyze Their Overall Mood and Appearance
If your loved changes their dressing, grooming or bathing habits or mood they may need a more involved level of care. However, if their appearance or mood changes are minor, then they will not need as much assistance. Be sure to gradually discuss the subject of care with your loved as you prepare to go that direction to maintain their self-esteem.
Consult an Expert Senior Living Advisor
If senior living is an option you are considering for your loved one there are free advisory services that can help you make the best decision based on their specific care needs. Home Care, Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care all offer different levels of support and an expert advisor can help you make sense of the services, which communities may be a good fit and associated costs. Medical Alert has teamed up with A Place for Mom who is the leading senior living advisory service in the United States. A Place for Mom’s expert advisors help caregivers and their families find the right senior living options for their aging loved ones through personalized referrals, tour scheduling and move-in support. Their services come at no cost to families as A Place for Mom is paid for by its network of 17,000+ participating communities and home care providers.
Seek Their Doctor’s Advice
Your loved one’s doctor is one person they trust and feel very comfortable around. Therefore, the doctor may add some valuable insight that you may never have thought of. Compare his/her thoughts and opinions with yours to determine the best care plan. With the doctor on board, it will also be easier to start and run the home care process.
Consult Other Family Members
Some seniors get the help that they need from different family members. This is fine, but it can be a bit challenging to establish how much care they need. In this case, have a meeting with your family to discuss your loved one’s needs and ensure that you are all on the same page.
Review the Needs with Your Loved One
Getting a care plan for your elderly relative doesn’t mean that you must go behind their back and do it by yourself. So long as they still have the mental capacity to do so, sit down with them and go through a list of their needs. Once done, you can discuss options of having those needs met. At this stage you can involve your other family members who can contribute to the discussion.
Getting the appropriate care for your loved is important as it plays a role in promoting the time, they have left with you through healthy diets, increased mental engagement, regular exercises and other vital aspects of their life.