Home for the Holidays
Tis the Season! With the Holidays rapidly approaching many may be traveling home to see Mom, Grandma, Dad, and relatives. Holidays are the time to be merry and bright, and spend time building memories with your loved ones.
When visiting your elderly family members, it is important to pay attention to small changes, that could be the start of your loved one needing a little extra help. Some things to look for are:
- Changes in behavior
- The upkeep of their home; are things messy, cluttered, dusty or in disarray?
- Changes in mood
- Their memory; are they suddenly forgetting things like the date, medication, or meals?
This article will give you many great tips on what to look for on your Holiday family visit, and how to identify when it is time to ask for help for your loved one. Holiday visits are a good way to observe and assess where your loved one’s health and self-abilities are currently while building memories and Holiday cheer.
There are also great tips on how you can assist your loved one. Such as, documenting the changes that you observe and discuss with your family or loved one’s physician. Discussing things with your loved one’s health care provider and family is a good way to work together to make sure that your family member has the best care that they need.
Another helpful tip would be to make changes to their home to make it a safer living space. Clearing all trash and clutter. Making sure cords and rugs are neatly placed and put away to avoid trips and falls. Also, placing safety rails in showers, baths and close to toilets helps to avoid falls, and provide stability for your loved one during their daily routines.
Discussing the “next steps of care” with your family member helps them feel relaxed and in control of their care. Helpful questions to ask would be, would you like to continue living at home, or a senior facility? Would you like to have a caregiver assist you at home? Also making a statement, such as; Coming into the New Year I would like to make sure that you are taken care of.
One final thing to be aware of is the level of your loved one’s health. Are they keeping up with their scheduled doctor appointments? Are they taking their medication as scheduled? Are they able to complete daily tasks on their own? The answers to these questions are helpful in making the decision to hire help for your loved one and deciding the next best step in their care. If you need any guidance or assistance in asking these difficult questions give us a call at (818) 206-8121. We are always available and are more than glad to set a free assessment to see how we can help you.
We here at Visiting Angels wish you a very Happy Holiday season!