Why Clutter in Your Loved One’s Home May Indicate the Need for Senior Care Services

There are many immediate signs that your senior loved one in Eldersburg, MD needs professional senior care services, including a cluttered home environment

Clutter is often the first sign that a senior needs help. Even if your loved one won't admit they need help, it's important to pay attention to visual cues that they're struggling with living on their own. If you have noticed that your loved one's home is cluttered, it may be time to think about professional senior care services from a reliable home care agency like Visiting Angels Eldersburg.

The Dangers that Come with Clutter

Contrary to popular belief, clutter is not just a minor problem in senior years. One of the biggest dangers of clutter is an increased risk of falls.

Unfortunately, falls are the leading cause of both non-fatal and fatal injuries among American seniors.

The Centers for Disease Control report that one in four seniors will fall every year, resulting in more than 2.8 million visits to the emergency room.

In addition to causing broken bones, fractures hips, and head trauma, falls also reduce senior independence and may lead to depression and isolation as well.

While clutter can just be a sign that your loved one needs senior care services to help out with light housekeeping and other activities of daily living, it can also point to underlying issues. These include:

Physical Issues

If clutter is a persistent problem for your loved one, they may simply not be able to do housework anymore. As we age, our skeleton and muscles weaken, we develop arthritis and live with other aches and pains. All of this can prevent seniors from performing daily tasks.

Forgetfulness

Clutter may also be a sign of forgetfulness. Your loved one may simply forget that some daily tasks need to be done. This can be an early sign of dementia. Keep in mind that forgetting something once in a while may be perfectly normal, but if your loved one seems to be forgetting stuff all the time, you should schedule an appointment with their doctor.

Depression

Seniors who are depressed may feel like there is no point in cleaning their home. More than six million senior Americans are depressed. Some of the most common reasons for senior depression include physical problems that lead to isolation and loneliness, loss of loved ones and boredom.

How Professional Senior Care Services Can Help Your Aging Loved One

Friends and family can help your loved one with housework, but this is not a long-term solution. On the other hand, professional in-home care can make a real difference in their life, regardless of the underlying cause of clutter.

A professional caregiver from Visiting Angels Eldersburg can help your loved one with activities of daily living, including housekeeping, promote mental and social activities, provide companionship and much more.

An expert caregiver can additionally make sure that seniors with dementia live in a safe environment and have plenty of stimulation in order to slow down the condition.

Professionals are also trained to work with seniors with dementia and help them overcome mental health problems.

If you would like to learn more about our senior care services and how we can be of help to your family, please give us a call today. Visiting Angels is here for you!

Visiting Angels Eldersburg provides quality in-home care for seniors in Eldersburg, Westminster, Ellicott City, Baltimore, Randallstown, Columbia and surrounding areas in Maryland.