The decision to hire home care is not always an easy one and the signs of decline are different for every person. One person might be totally independent well into their eighties while someone else may need help decades before. Complicating the decision further is that signs can be subtle and easy to miss, especially when you don’t see your loved one on a regular basis. Below is a guideline of some things to be aware of that may signal a need to seek out assistance in your loved one’s home care. Some of these may also be a symptom of a larger health issue, so also consult a medical professional to rule out an underlying medical problem.
A. Ability to get in and out of bed on their own has declined or stopped.
B. Bathing on their own is difficult or impossible.
C. Continence issues or they can’t use the toilet on their own.
D. Dressing themselves is hard or they don’t dress in appropriate clothing.
E. Eating – trouble feeding themselves, cooking, or they aren’t eating nutritious meals.
F. Frail health, chronic illness, or serious medical conditions.
G. Grocery shopping – They can’t physically do any or all of: getting to the store, walking the aisles choosing items, loading and unloading bags, and putting them away.
H. Hygiene has changed or is poor – dirty clothes, body odor, messy hair, dirty hands and nails
I. Isolation – no longer leaving the house, don’t socialize with friends, don’t participate in activities they used to do.
J. Joint pain and arthritis that is severe.
K. Keeping track of time, appointments, medications is difficult.
L. Limited mobility- it’s hard for them to get around, stand for periods of time. Their balance, coordination, and dexterity is affected.
M. Memory issues
N. No family in area to help or to take care of them.
O. Onset of Dementia or Alzheimer’s.
P. Personality changes such as moodiness, irritability, depression, or aggression (could indicate an underlying issue).
Q. Quit taking care of household chore like dishes and laundry.
R. Recovering from surgery.
S. Sleeping too much or too little.
T. Transportation- They can’t enter or exit the vehicle by themselves. They can no longer safely operate a vehicle because of getting confused and lost while driving or having collisions and accidents.
U. Unpaid bills, unopened mail, large new debts, or unexplained expenses (may indicate they are having difficulty managing their finances).
V. Vision issue or vertigo especially if it leads to falls.
W. Weight changes in noticeable or drastic amounts.
X. Xenophobia- developing a fear of new or foreign things, strangers, or experiences.
Y. You’re noticing bruising or injuries. It could indicate falls or other incidents they don’t want to tell you about.
Z. Zeal- they seem to have lost interest in life and things they once enjoyed.
If you've seen some of these signs and are concerned, it's definitely time to consider some type of elder care. Depending on the severity and complexity of your loved ones' needs, there are many types of care available from long-term care facilities, assisted living care facilities, and different levels of in-home care.
Give Absolute Best Care Home Solutions a call at (443)-736-7823, email us at info@abchs.org, or visit our website abchs.org and our experienced nurses will come and assess which of our many services we can provide to your loved one to keep them leading dignified and independent lives in the comfort and safety of their own home.