The realization that your aging loved one can no longer perform daily activities may be upsetting, but there are still many things you can do to help him or her remain independent. Now that your loved one is facing difficulties, it’s time to act by taking these steps to address his or her daily needs.
Schedule an Exam
Depending on the signs of daily challenges you’ve noticed, your loved one may need a proper diagnosis of a medical condition. For instance, a senior who suddenly cannot see to drive may need corrective lenses. In some cases, you may already know what’s wrong, such as an injury or a long-term health condition. In these cases, talking with a doctor could reveal new treatment options that could help your loved one do more each day.
Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Clearwater, FL, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
Find Out Your Loved One’s Preferences
At some point, seniors must accept the need for assistance with daily activities. However, you need to be aware this is sometimes a sensitive situation for older adults who take pride in being capable of handling things on their own. When your loved one is in a good mood, discuss his or her preferences for assistance through the aging process. Make sure to offer options such as hiring a home caregiver who allows your loved one to get help without having to uproot his or her life.
If you’re caring for an aging loved one, hiring a professional caregiver can help you as well. In Clearwater, respite care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.
Identify Specific Needs
Every senior is unique, and your loved one may only need help right now with specific tasks. Talk to your loved one about the things he or she finds most challenging, and observe his or her daily routine for a day or two to find where the biggest challenges exist. You can also arrange for a home assessment that involves a professional caregiver visiting your loved one to identify specific needs.
Explore Potential Accommodations
Once you know what your loved one needs help with, use this information to search for ways to help him or her remain independent. For example, dressing aids such as button fastener loops could help your loved one manage getting dressed independently. You can also utilize new technology such as adjustable beds and automatic shutoff appliances to help your loved one accomplish many basic tasks.
Arrange for Help Around the House
Your loved one may still need help in addition to the accommodations you set up. Professional home caregivers provide multiple services from which you can pick and choose to give your parent support where he or she needs it the most. Whether your loved one needs someone to provide transportation to the doctor or to clean up the kitchen, bringing help into the home means he or she never has to face difficulty with a task alone.
Continue to Check In
Care plans should always stay flexible, since your loved one’s needs will change over time. After your loved one has had time to adjust to the new caregiver and accommodations, make sure to ask how things are going. This way, you can continue to adjust the plan to fit your loved one’s needs as they change.
It’s hard to seeing an aging loved one face difficulty with daily tasks. Fortunately, help is available. Follow the steps outlined above to find out how you can help your loved one face the challenges of aging. Clearwater home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. Call Home Care Assistance at (727) 330-7862 to learn more about our flexible and customizable senior care plans.