There’s no one answer to when it’s the right time to bring in 24-hour home care for aging adults. But there are signs that things are changing and that seniors might need more help. Family caregivers might also be noticing that they are struggling more often to try to keep up with everything. Each of those situations could mean it’s time to consider more help.
Mobility Changes
Seniors often feel as if mobility changes, especially decreased mobility and reduced strength, are just a normal part of aging. While that’s true to an extent, that doesn’t mean seniors should just accept it. There are things they can do to mitigate those changes and be safer, especially with help from home care providers.
Isolation
Social isolation and loneliness are other issues seniors face. Elder care providers are not just a source of comfort and assistance; they also offer a lot of companionship to the seniors they help. 24-hour home care providers in particular are there during the day and at night, which means that they’re able to offer companionship whenever seniors want and need someone to spend time with them.
Personal Care Issues
With mobility challenges and other difficulties related to aging, personal care tasks become more difficult tom manage. Seniors might become afraid of bathing or taking a shower, as well. The risk of falling or experiencing some other complications can mean that seniors start avoiding activities they used to do every day in the past. Professional caregivers help with these types of tasks while also preserving dignity for aging adults.
Confusion or Cognitive Changes
When cognitive changes become more of a problem, seniors often have more difficulty with daily life and especially with staying safe at home. Increased confusion and cognitive challenges mean that it makes a lot of sense to have someone with the senior as much as possible. Professional caregivers can help build routines that support seniors with memory and cognitive trouble so that they feel more secure.
Falls or Accidents
Because of medication side effects, mobility challenges, cognitive changes, and other factors, seniors may be more susceptible than ever before to accidents or falls. If this is the case, having home care providers there with them during the day and overnight can help seniors to avoid these issues. Since falling once leaves seniors twice as likely to fall again, a solid fall prevention plan is a necessary piece of any care plan.
Increasing Trouble with Daily Tasks
Another sign that it might be time for around-the-clock home care assistance could be that seniors have more trouble in general with daily tasks. The tasks that help seniors to age in place successfully, like preparing meals and keeping up with household chores, are an essential part of being able to keep their lifestyle the same. When it’s more difficult to do these things, seniors may worry that they can’t continue to stay at home.
24-hour home care providers can be there to help with so many of the issues seniors might start to experience while they age in place. They can also offer tremendous peace of mind to family caregivers as they worry about the changes they see in their senior family members.
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-hour Home Care in the Twin Cities Metro, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.
