Is It Time …
For Senior Care?
Your parents want their independence as long as possible. You want them to have that independence. But, the years are catching up on them and you’re beginning to wonder if they need some level of senior care assistance.
How do you determine if they need assistance now? How do you know what level of care they require?
These are difficult questions. To thoroughly appraise the amount of senior care you parent(s) require, whether In-Home Care, an Independent Living, Assisted Living or Memory Care Home, it’s best to consult with a professional in the senior care field and/or a physician who is familiar with working with the aged. But, if you know what to look for, you can make an informed evaluation on your own.
When determining if It Is Time For Senior Care, here are some questions to consider:
Changes in Behavior: You probably know your parent(s) better than anyone and are therefore well equipped to notice changes in their behavior, such as changes in …
- Likes and Dislikes
- Daily Patterns
- Ability to maintain Responsibilities (they used to keep their home spotless now it’s filthy or the grass used to be cut and now it’s overgrown)
- Losing Track of Time (they don’t know the time or may not know what day of the week it is – whether it’s morning or evening)
- The frequency that they change clothes
- How often they bathe
- Grooming including clipping their nails
- Losing interests in Hobbies
- Not wanting to do things they used to like to do
Wandering: Wandering off can indicate a serious change in your parent’s ability to care for themselves. It can also lead to tragic consequences. Keep an eye out if they’re walking or driving without a destination. This can be an indication of the latter stages of dementia.
Aggression: All your life you knew your parent as a mild-mannered individual. Suddenly, you find they’ve changed. It’s almost as if they’re another person exhibiting aggressive behavior such as …
- They’re Angered Easily and Short-Tempered
- They have little Patience
- They’re Verbally Abusive
- They use Language they never used to use
- They’re Physically Aggressive
- They may even be Sexually Aggressive
Home Safety: The problem with determining their ability to live independently and safely without assistance is that, it’s quite possible, your parents won’t appreciate your efforts on their behalf. It’s a serious blow to their pride when they can no longer care for themselves. They may resent your help. Regardless, you should consider …
- Their ability to do daily tasks without injury
- Whether they leave the stove on
- Are they not locking doors
- What about their ability to drive safely
- Are they forgetting medications or taking them too often
- Are they forgetting to eat
- Are they eating things that are beyond their expiration date (poor nutrition can lead to declining health)
Physician indicates need for greater care: When your parent(s) go to a doctor’s appointment, the doctor may observe changes that would indicate a need for senior care, such as …
- Physical changes
- Mental or Emotional changes
ADLs: In many ways, the considerations listed above fit in with what professionals in senior health care call the ADLs – Activities of Daily Living. These are:
- Bathing themselves
- Dressing & Grooming themselves
- Feeding themselves
- Toileting
- Transferring (ability to move from one body position to another – such as from a bed to a chair or to a walker)
- Cognition – the ability to make sound basic decisions related to self-care
If you consider how your parent(s) or loved one is doing with the points above, you can go a long way in determining if they need senior care at some level. You can also check with us if you want assistance in making that determination. Our goal is to ensure that your parent(s) or loved one is safe, healthy, happy and actively engaged in life with dignity. If you have questions, please, feel free to give us a call: (223) 333-6247.
