Our goal is to ensure we provide you with all of the information and support you need to make the best decision.
10 Signs Your Loved One Needs Care
Coming to the realization that your loved one needs care brings up a lot of emotions and uncertainty. Knowing the signs to look out for and spotting them early on is incredibly important for the well-being and safety of your loved one. If the signs are spotted early on it allows more time to put a plan into place, making this transition much smoother. At Home Is Where You Are Senior Care Planning we understand the challenges this transition represents and we have put together a list of signs that can assist you in your decision to put your loved one into a care facility or procure in home care.
1. Falls
If you find that your loved one is falling often or has had a big fall that sent them to the hospital this is a clear indication that your loved one needs help. Often they still feel independent and like they can still perform the same tasks and at the same speed they once used to. If this is a reoccurring situation, it may be time to start looking for care options.
2. Poor Personal Hygiene
This is something that often takes us by surprise but is also one of the more noticeable signs. If your loved one was always meticulous with hygiene and appearance, this would be worth noting as a possible sign that care is needed. Dirty and untidy hair, unbrushed teeth, dirty clothes, body odor, dirty hands and nail are all warning signs that personal care has become a challenge without assistance.
3. Improper Nutrition
Lack of proper nutrition and hydration has detrimental effects on the elderly’s physical, mental and emotional well-being and can become serious quickly. If kitchen tasks in general are the culprit or planning meals or even getting to the grocery store have presented as challenges, Home Is Where You Are Senior Care Planning can help in getting proper care.
4. Forgetfulness
Beginning signs of forgetfulness may seem innocuous enough since we all can slip up from time to time. However, when it becomes a matter of forgetting to take medication or forgetting which medication was taken, forgetfulness quickly leave your loved one in harm’s way as the consequences can be life threatening. Forgetfulness can also compound into getting lost in familiar surroundings, forgetting to pay bills and much more. In some instances, forgetfulness may in fact be symptoms of a greater medical issue such as, dementia or Alzheimer’s.
5. Increased number of Medical Appointments
As the health of senior citizens increase, their need for specialists, doctor appointments or other medical appointments increase. If you are the primary caretaker this can have a significant effect on your daily life. Enlisting the help of a professional can alleviate much stress and ensure that your loved one is getting the proper care they need.
6. Begins To React To Care Aggressively
In some instances senior citizens bodies remain healthy but their minds may begin to deteriorate. Looking out for personality changes such as a mild mannered person becoming aggressive, is a sign to lookout for. If you find yourself in this situation, for the safety of you and your loved one it may be time for senior care.
7. Medical Condition or Injury
A recently diagnosed illness, injury or disease that could effect your loved ones ability to perform day to day tasks and activities.
8. Unable to Perform Daily Tasks
As seniors age the things that were once second nature or simple become difficult or too much for them to handle. If your loved one is having trouble keeping their living quarters tidy, getting the mail, doing laundry or driving, these could all be signs that they need assistance.
9. Isolation, Behavioral Changes or Depression
There are a lot of factors that could contribute to behavioral changes, isolation or depression. Loss of a spouse, relatives who live far away, lack of transportation, or shrinking friend groups are just some examples. Seniors who experience isolation and loneliness are at a much greater risk for both physical and mental illness. Safety also becomes an issue when there is no one to monitor or assist during these times of isolation.
10. Incontinence
This can be both stressful and embarrassing for many seniors. Incontinence can be caused by vaginal infections, constipation, urinary tract infections or weak pelvic muscles among many other things. Fortunately, there are interventions and treatments that can help manage incontinence as incontinence cannot be safely ignored. This is a difficult subject for seniors and family caregivers to discuss. The good news is that assisted living facilities are well-versed in handling incontinence issues.