Many amazing things come with age, including more time to spend with loved ones and experiences that bring joy, wisdom, and skills, as well as an overall happier outlook on life. However, after a certain point, we start to face some new challenges as well. When that time comes, there will be many important decisions to make. Most people prefer in-home care instead of moving to a long-term care facility, but this can be difficult for family members unequipped to take on the role of full-time caregiver.
One alternative to explore is in-home care. This refers to hiring home care professionals who can provide the necessary level of service and medical assistance for elderly members of the family. This allows individuals to enjoy their home’s familiarity and safety while receiving the support necessary to keep them safe and comfortable, with a high quality of life. To successfully transition to receiving in-home care, it’s crucial to recognize when such care becomes necessary. It’s equally critical that you don’t allow your loved one to say no to outside assistance. If they resist the idea of getting professional help, they may need a gentle reminder that home care is a safe and pleasant alternative to being placed in a long-term care facility.
Signs That Your Family Is in Need of In-Home Support
Excessive Forgetfulness
Forgetting small details from time to time is perfectly normal. However, if this forgetfulness starts affecting your loved one’s safety, it may be time to call in a professional agency. This could include forgetting to turn off appliances, forgetting to take medications, forgetting to make necessary payments, and more.
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Limited Mobility
In this day and age, there are a wide range of devices designed to help with senior mobility and accessibility. Still, once mobility becomes too limited, it can start hurting someone’s quality of life. This includes difficulties with getting dressed, practicing proper hygiene, and keeping the home clean. Failure to provide appropriate assistance to someone with limited mobility can also result in serious falls and accidents, as individuals attempt to continue performing said tasks independently.
Physical Health Concerns
If your loved one experiences a chronic illness, has recently been diagnosed with a severe illness, or has recently had surgery, they are in a much more vulnerable condition. They could face sudden complications at any moment. Having a trained home care provider on site ensures that someone will be available to help stabilize them and get them any additional medical attention they might require in such an event.
Mental Health Concerns
Depression and isolation can be overwhelming and have extremely negative effects on a person’s physical health. Symptoms of mental illness such as depression include disruptions to sleep patterns, disruptions to appetite, and unusual emotional states.
Caregiver Fatigue
Taking care of a loved one is both a mentally and physically difficult task, requiring a lot of your time and energy. It’s natural to feel overly protective of the people we care for, but if we overextend ourselves, it can lead to feelings of frustration and ultimately result in an insufficient level of care. If the strain has become too much, it might be time to call in a trained, professional provider of in-home care.
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Start Planning for In-Home Care Today
Rather than trying to determine what’s best on the spot, it can help to learn more about what to expect and create a plan for the future, one that ensures everyone’s needs are being respected and addressed. That’s why Arista Home Care Solutions offers over-the-phone as well as more extensive in-home care assessments, in addition to answering frequently asked questions as you begin to navigate your family caregiving journey. Arista Home Care Solutions is an in-home health care and personal care agency committed to providing the assistance necessary to keep your loved ones safe and healthy, all while allowing them to remain in the comfort of their own home.
To learn more about what Arista can do for you, contact us online, or give us a call at (419) 754-1897.