Signs It Might Be Time for Home Care Help

Sometimes it can be hard to admit we need help. That is especially the case when it comes to our senior loved ones. For years, they’ve been the ones who’ve done everything for us. First, it can be hard to realize that they now are the ones who need some help. Second, our inclination is to do everything ourselves, giving them the kind of care they have given us over the years. Sometimes though, they need a little bit more help that we can give. More and more seniors are choosing to age in place these days, in the comfort of their own homes. To help them stay within their homes, sometimes it is necessary to get help from a home caregiver. As we lead our own lives, it is often impossible to be there for everything our senior needs. That is when a home caregiver can help.

When, though, is it time for home care help? There are several signs from having difficulty with daily hygiene to forgetting to take medicines.

Here are some indications it might be time to get home care help.

Struggles with tasks

Is it getting too difficult for your senior loved one to button up his shirt on his own? Is he skipping lunch because he just doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of cooking and then cleaning up? If senior citizens are starting to struggle with basic activities it may be time to consider home care assistance. For example, if they’ve always been a person who takes a bath each night before bed, but now it seems as if they haven’t bathed in weeks, it might be time to get some help. Maybe your loved one fears falling or slipping as they get into the tub. Home care workers can help with personal care, including bathing, teeth brushing and more. They even can serve as a motivator or a reminder to do these things. In addition to personal hygiene, caregivers can help with things such as getting dressed and ready for the day each morning, light housekeeping, light meal prep so they don’t skip meals, and post meal clean up. If some of these things are proving to be more difficult for seniors, it might be a sign that home care can help.

Concerns for Safety

If you are worried about leaving your senior loved one home alone for fear they might fall, it could be time to use the services of a home care agency. If they’ve already fallen once, that concern should be heightened. According to the CDC, falling once doubles your chance of falling again . Caregivers can look out for any tripping hazards, as well as provide a steady hand for seniors walking through their home, or out and about. They also can help them get up from a chair, or sit down again safely. Having a home care worker on hand can also give loved ones peace of mind. It gives another set of eyes on the senior citizens, and provides someone family members can check in with throughout the day to ensure their loved one is ok.

Loneliness

Covid times led to much isolation among senior citizens in this country. Though things are getting back to normal, it still can be a lonely time for seniors as they age in place at home. Often they find it more difficult to leave the home, often they start to suffer from social isolation or loneliness. Being socially isolated or lonely can have negative impacts on anyone, especially senior citizens. Studies have shown that it can put seniors at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and more. Findings from a study published by the National Council on Aging show that loneliness can increase the risk of mortality by 50 percent. Often relatives and friends can’t visit seniors as much as they would like, which is where home care can help. If your senior loved one is lonely, or doesn’t get much social interaction outside of when you are with them, you may want to consider companion care offered by many home care agencies. Caregivers can be on hand to take seniors to the park, have a picnic in the backyard, watch movies with them or even just sit and listen to their stories about their grandchildren.

Specialty Care

Many home care agencies offer specialty care services, which might be necessary if your senior loved one is suffering from a medical condition. For example, Visiting Angels Santa Clarita has caregivers trained in caring for clients with Dementia and Alzheimer’s . For example, they can help ensure clients do not wander, and can be there so your loved one is never alone. They also can contact family members should issues arise. Home care workers can help with bringing seniors to their doctor and therapy appointments. They even can simply help remind seniors to take their medicine each day if they are growing forgetful, or can contact family members if they resist or refuse to take it.

Help for Family Members

Though home care is targeted toward the client, it also can help family members. For example, if family members are caring for their senior loved ones, it can lead to burnout. Often everything is focused on the care and safety of their senior loved one, and it is easy to forget the fun and relationship you used to have. Resentment can build up on both sides.Home caregivers can help to alleviate this. They can take on the tasks that family members feel uncomfortable doing - such as bathing and toileting their senior loved ones. Doing these things for the senior can help loved ones maintain dignity and the relationship they’ve always had together. Home care workers also can offer respite care, which means they can give the primary caregiver a break to refresh and just take some time for themselves.

We can help

If you are considering home care, our professionals at Visiting Angels Santa Clarita are here for you. We provide a variety of home care services, including companion care for fall activities and in-home care for help with daily life activities. Whatever needs your senior loved one has, our trained professionals can help. We will develop a care plan with you that meets your specific needs, and match you with a trained caregiver.

Our expert team of caregivers serves clients in Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley. To learn more about our services, call us at 661-263-2273, or fill out an online form.