Home care assistance offer the cornerstone for aging persons at home, however how do you know if your elderly loved one requires home care? This type of assistance must begin as soon as possible. Here are ten tell-tale signs that your family member is in need of home care assistance.
- Clutter Everywhere
A definite indication that your family member is struggling is when their home is dirty and untidy all the time. It may include accumulation of recycling or garbage, clutter, unfolded laundry, and piles of dirty dishes. An unkempt or cluttered house can show an issue with home maintenance too. Light bulbs may need replacing, the grass is overgrown, and fire detectors need replacing.
- Personal Hygiene Issues
Deteriorating hygiene can occur gradually over time. If you notice your loved one’s appearance is declining and in particular bodily odor, piled laundry and soiled clothing are red flags. Physical and memory issues can make it difficult for them to remain clean and sanitary.
- Issues With Driving
Driving can be a touchy subject since this is the epitome of a person’s independence. If you notice a regular occurrence of driving-related issues like fender-benders, traffic tickets, and dents on their car which are all signs that your family parent must stop driving. The issue can be resolved by teaching them to use taxi apps like uber or to show them how to call a reliable taxi service. You can check out https://homecareassistance.com/ if you need home care related services for a family member.
- Excessive fluctuation in weight
A variance of ten percent or more in weight can be an indication of an issue. The loved one might not have an appetite or are not eating enough. The reasons could be due to depression or having difficulty in preparing meals.
- Confusion
Severe memory issues or confusion are signs of dementia. It could also indicate an underlying medical issue or mismanagement of meds.
- Having trouble with medication management or following physician’s orders
Neglecting to take prescription drugs or mismanagement thereof can have severe cognitive and medical after-effects. Check if your parent’s meds are organized in a weekly pill container or for expired medications.
- Loneliness
Social isolation is widespread among the elderly. Loneliness can have a major impact on the physical and emotional well-being of a person. It might also be due to depression, which can be the result of inability to go outside the home or having no one to keep them company.
- Falls
Regular falls are a sure indication that something is amiss. Falls are the predominant reason for disability for persons older than sixty-five. Falling can happen due to various factors. Some include cognitive issues, weakness, or mismanagement of drugs. It can also occur as a result of exacerbation of a present medical issue.
- Mobility issues
Mobility is not restricted to difficulty walking. It could also mean issues with getting dressed every morning, going to bed, bathing, or using the restroom.
- Missed appointments
Missing their doctor’s appointments can indicate various things. They could be experiencing organizational or memory issues. Maybe your family members have forgotten or have a fear of driving to get to a particular location.