For many families, bringing up home care with an aging loved one might be a touchy subject. It can be hard to know when to start the conversation. The answer is not going to be the same for everybody, but there are signs you can watch for.
Home health needs to be prescribed by a doctor, which means you don’t have to wonder if or when an aging loved one might benefit from skilled services. The necessary home health will be specified under a complete plan of care and ordered by a physician.
However, the same isn’t true for home care. Home care is nonmedical support provided by a professional caregiver to help older adults lead a safer, healthier, and more independent life as they age in place.
No matter where your loved one considers home — their home, your home, an assisted living community — here are eight indicators that they might benefit from home care.
1. Growing Safety Concerns
Is your parent’s home equipped with safety features, such as grab bars and emergency response systems? If something happens when your loved one is home alone, is there someone who can respond quickly?
As people get older, the odds of accidents happening rise. If your loved one has fallen recently or is at risk of falling, consider hiring home care. Home care can help your loved one remain safe and secure while maintaining their independence from the comfort of their own home.
2. Worsening Personal Hygiene
Did your loved one used to be regular with showers but now you find that they don’t get around to bathing? Were they particular about clothes but now they run errands in smelly or obviously dirty clothes?
Although these aren’t always health issues, they may be a sign of an underlying issue, such as cognitive decline or depression. They could also indicate your loved one could use physical help with laundry or even dressing.
3. Relies on Others for Rides
Does your loved one still drive? Getting older doesn’t necessarily mean their driving days are over; however, some of the changes they experience as they age can affect their ability to drive safely.
If your aging loved one can no longer drive, is overwhelmed by road signs and markings while driving, or has physical changes that impair their mobility, they might benefit from home care. Home care aides can provide supervised transportation services for doctor appointments, shopping trips, errands, salon visits, short outings, and special events.
4. Messy House and Yard
When you look around the house, is it as neat and clean as it used to be? Is the yard work getting done?
Although your loved one might enjoy owning a home, the upkeep may be more than they can handle. One of the telltale signs that they could use some additional support is an unkempt home or living environment. Home care aides can help so there isn’t clutter, piled up garbage, or an overgrown lawn.
5. Lots of Medications
Does your loved one remember to take medications correctly — and at the right time? Are medications expired?
If your loved one has a chronic medical condition and has difficulty managing medications, they might benefit from the medication reminders provided by a home care aide. Caregivers will provide reminders at the specific times when the medication is due, and you will enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your loved one’s needs are being met by a caring health care professional.
6. Changing Cognitive Skills
Is your loved one having a harder time finding their way to a familiar place? Do they start to get agitated at the end of the day?
If you’ve reached the point where you feel like you can’t fully meet the needs of a loved one struggling with memory impairment, home care can help. In addition to providing companion care during the day, home care aides can provide supervision overnight. Overnight supervision can include safety checks, toileting assistance, and any nightly personal health care services needed.
7. Lack of Social Circle
Do they have friends, or are they isolated from others most of the time? Have you noticed that your loved one doesn’t seem to talk about their friends much anymore?
Lack of active friendships and social isolation can have far-reaching impacts on senior health. In addition to providing personal care, home care offers companion care. Companion care is primarily emotional support and companionship for seniors and to ultimately improve their quality of life.
8. Increasing Care Needs
If you are a family caregiver for a loved one, ask yourself are you feeling irritable or hopeless? Are you struggling with emotional and physical exhaustion or getting sick more often? When you look at your loved one, do you see a more limited person who needs some help more than one hour a day?
Caregiver burnout is a sign that your parent’s ability to care for themselves has declined. If your loved one’s need for care is wearing you out, it’s probably time to start considering your options. Home care can ensure that your loved one is in good hands while you take a much-needed break — for a day, evening, weekend, or entire vacation. Respite, or short-term services, can allow you the time you need to maintain your own quality of life while providing care for a loved one.
If your loved one is exhibiting any of these eight indicators — or if you have reached a point where you feel like you cannot fully meet the needs of your loved one at home — it is time to start considering your options.
For an in-depth look at the home health and home care options available, what to look for when hiring home health and home care services, and how to pay for home health and home care services, download our Guide to Home Health & Home Care Services.
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