Home is where the heart is, making it all the harder for someone to imagine a point where continuing to live there would be challenging and unrealistic. However, we must all face the difficulties associated with aging, as well as make tough choices when moving around unencumbered and completing household chores independently is no longer possible. When it comes to aging, retaining as much independence as possible is essential, but there may come a time when things that were once easy for someone become too difficult to manage on their own.
If this rings true for a loved one especially, then now might be the time to consider your options. There are retirement homes or assisted living communities, but these can lack the homey atmosphere you desire. Living with family may not be realistic because of space and privacy concerns, or there simply isn’t enough room in their homes and schedules to accommodate another person’s needs. When it comes to both of these options, it requires the senior to uproot themselves from what is most comfortable and familiar: their home.
Ultimately, you may come to the conclusion that an in-home elderly caregiver is the best option that allows your loved one to live life independently and in a place they know and love. Before this plan is ever put into action, though, it’s important to know a few telltale signs that it is time to find a caregiver for your loved one.
Indications to Keep an Eye Out For
Signs that a senior loved one needs in-home care may not always be apparent, but when they are, they require your serious attention. Some of the biggest telltale signs are often easy to spot with the naked eye. How has your loved one looked recently? You may notice disheveled clothes and hair, as well as weight loss. While it is common for seniors to shower less frequently as they age, be careful not to ignore if their showering habits deviate noticeably from their norm.
Additionally, it can’t be ignored if their home that was once organized and clean now looks cluttered and disordered. This might manifest in the form of dishes accumulating in the sink, trash piling up in the garbage can, bushes and weeds overgrowing in the garden or other details that are amiss or vary greatly from how the house once was. Bottom line: When a home no longer feels safe and sanitary for occupancy, someone with the ability to better care for the occupant and their home must intervene.
Aside from their and their home’s appearance, you may also notice things they once remembered easily have been slipping their mind as of late, or once familiar tasks have become confusing or difficult. Forgetting to take their medication or failing to feed their pets are just two real-world examples that would require your immediate concern and attention.
How to Find Qualified In-Home Senior Care Services
Finding a qualified, reliable in-home senior caregiver may seem like an intimidating task at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Look for companies that have a proven track record of success with pairing dependable, licensed and insured caregivers with families who want the best care for their senior loved ones.
After all, a caregiver will be someone your loved one will trust, rely on frequently and spend plenty of time with. With this is mind, it’s understandable that you want a caregiver who will be committed to creating a strong, genuine bond with your loved one. Not only that, but they should be caring, knowledgeable and ready to help in any way they are needed.
Almost just as crucial, it’s important to find a caregiver who is able to provide care when you and your loved one needs it, whether that be a few hours on weekdays or fulltime, live-in care. Before you find a caregiver that you love, make sure that they can meet your needs fully and that you both are on the same page.
Adjustment to a New Way of Life
Surely, you want your senior family member to lead an independent life with the least amount of interruption and change as they age in place. Fortunately, in-home caregivers make doing just that possible. Do your research and decide on what will ensure that your loved one continues to live the best possible life as they remain in their home.
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