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As our loved ones get older, one of the hardest moments they face is when they start to struggle with independently accomplishing everyday tasks. Over time, health circumstances can make even the simplest tasks challenging for an aging individual, especially one who is experiencing a chronic illness, a health-related disability, or dementia.
You’d love to be able to provide all the care that they need yourself, but the reality is that you have a full life and busy schedule of your own. As much as you want to be able to do it all, there comes a time when you realize that you can’t be there as often as you’re needed. When your loved one begins to be unable to complete normal tasks, it’s a sign that they need a caring professional in the home to help them. Deciding when your loved one may need additional home care is difficult. Here are five signs to watch for:
1. Your loved one becomes confused when confronted with simple questions. They can’t remember whether or not they remembered to eat breakfast, or they can’t recall whether or not they took their medication today. Look at your loved one’s medication bottles and ask them what medications they are taking while confirming with their doctor. If there is discrepancy or when this becomes more than just a once-in-a-while occurrence, it’s time to consider bringing someone in who will help your loved one take care of daily tasks.
2. Your loved one shows signs that they can no longer drive safely. This might include difficulty remembering how to get to a familiar location, a tendency to lose track of the task at hand while driving, or vision problems. To check for vision problems, look around their home for pills on the floor or if the home is dustier then normal–seniors with decreased vision may not notice these things. While it’s hard to take your loved one’s keys away once and for all, you’ll be relieved to know that there’s someone on hand to take them to their appointments and anywhere else they may need to go.
3. Your loved one starts to resist bathing. It’s relatively common for elderly patients, particularly those who are struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia, to begin to make excuses not to bathe. If the home and your loved one begins to smell unclean, they need in-home care that will compassionately help them through this regular and necessary task.
4. Your loved one has trouble managing their finances. While they might always have handled them competently in the past, there’s a point where it becomes too difficult to remember that the electric bill is due on the first of the month and that the boy who comes to mow the lawn should be paid on the tenth. Your loved one might also struggle with balancing a checkbook or remembering to keep track of purchases. When it comes to this point, they need someone to help them keep their finances on track.
5. Your loved one forgets small and necessary tasks. They might forget how to get dressed properly or become physically unable to do so comfortably. Loved ones with dementia might forget to put on their glasses, put in their teeth, or take their medication. Without these small but important responsibilities, your loved one’s quality of life will start to deteriorate simply because of what they aren’t remembering or aren’t able to do.
It’s a weight off your mind to know that your loved one will be cared for when you can’t be there. You’ll be relieved to put the tasks in the hands of a caring professional who will provide all the services your loved one needs without hindering her independence.
Ready to find a service that will work with you and your aging loved one? CareMinders Home Care of Lady Lake provides personal care services that can help prolong your loved one’s ability to live independently and safely. From help with meals and mobility to personal care and errands, our expert caregivers lend a helping hand while enhancing our clients’ quality of life. Contact us at 352.430.2781.
