How do you know if it is time for In-Home care?
Signs a Senior Needs Help at Home
Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance is not easy for people as they age. The responsibility often falls on family members to recognize signs that an aging loved one might need support with completing daily living tasks.
How do you know if it is time for In-Home Care? Look for the red flags listed below.
Changes in Physical Function and Mental Status
- Difficulty keeping track of time
- Sleeping for most of the day
- Poor diet or weight loss
- Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
- Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
- Difficulty getting up from a seated position
- Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
- Unexplained bruising or injuries
- Marks or wear on walls, door jams, furniture and other items being used to help with stability while walking through the home
- Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
- Forgetfulness, including forgetting to take medications or taking incorrect dosages
- Missing important appointments
- Consistent use of poor judgment (e.g. falling for scams or sales pitches, giving away money)
Changes in Personal Hygiene
- Unpleasant body odor
- Infrequent showering or bathing
- A strong smell of urine in the house or on clothing
- Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care (e.g. unkempt hair, untrimmed nails, lack of oral care, wearing dirty or stained clothing)
Neglecting Household Responsibilities
- Little or no fresh, healthy food in the fridge
- Dirty house and/or extreme clutter
- Dirty laundry piling up
- Stains or wet spots on furniture or carpet
- Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away
- Stacks of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
- Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
- Utilities being turned off due to missed payments
- Unexplained dents and scratches on their car
If these signs are present, it doesn’t necessarily mean a move to assisted living or a nursing home is required. However, these red flags do indicate that daily supportive care is needed.
Sollitto, Marlo. “Signs a Senior Needs Help at Home”. Home Care. AGINGCARE.COM, 09/05/2017
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*If you notice any of these changes in yourself or your loved one please contact Safe at Home Senior Care for your free assessment at (831) 462-3500.*
Safe At Home Senior Care provides In-Home Care to seniors with personalized and affordable services that are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and 365 days a year. Our services can range from a few hours a week, to 24 hour care. Safe At Home Senior Care is the ideal partner for those who may need extra one-on-one care. Safe At Home Senior Care provides trained, highly skilled caregivers, so that you or your loved one can remain Safe in the Comfort of Your Own Home for the remainder of your life.
It’s good to learn that a senior should get help at home if there is a decline in personal care. My wife and I are worried about my mother growing old and I was wondering when I should look for her to get personal help for her everyday life. I’ll be sure to ask her if she is still able to take care of herself.
That’s a good idea to look out for things like a restriction of movement in an elderly person. My parents are getting petty old, and I wouldn’t want them to get hurt form trying to do something that they aren’t strong enough to. I should look into getting someone to help them out if I start to notice some of these signs.
I really like that you touched on a lack of personal hygiene being a great indicator of someone that needs help. My dad is getting older and it’s becoming obvious that he needs help throughout the day. We need to find someone that can assist him and provide great home health care service.
It makes a lot of sense to get the senior into a better situation if they can’t even get up while alone. My dad is getting older and needs more attention throughout the day. We need to find someone that can be at his home throughout the day so that he is safe and happy.
It makes sense to get worried if you start smelling strange body odors. My uncle is getting older and needs to get medical attention from professionals. We need to find a local caretaker that can be there throughout the day to offer assistance.