Supporting seniors exactly how they need to be supported is a complicated task. Helping too much can leave seniors feeling smothered. Helping too little leaves them struggling and isn’t great, either. What family caregivers need to do is figure out what types of support their seniors need and then put the right solution, like home care services, to work for them.
Look at Physical Health Needs
It’s a good idea to start out by looking at the senior’s physical health needs. What medical conditions do they have? Are there concerns about mobility or safety? Do they need help with medical issues? This type of questioning can help family caregivers narrow down how much or how little support seniors need right now and even in the future.
Evaluate Cognitive Health
How is the senior’s cognitive health faring? Are they experiencing memory loss, confusion, or having more trouble than usual making decisions? These could be signs that the senior is dealing with some more complicated issues. Mental health issues, especially loneliness, are easier to solve. Bringing in companion care at home gives seniors someone to talk to and to spend time with on an ongoing basis.
Assess Needs Related to Daily Activities
A more complicated form of support exists around activities of daily living. When seniors are having more trouble with personal care tasks like getting dressed, bathing, and going to the bathroom alone, personal care at home can help. Home care providers can help with light housekeeping and tasks that help to keep seniors safe at home.
Look at Social Needs
If seniors are staying at home alone more often, especially after they stop driving, then it might be a good idea to have home care providers available more often. They can help with transportation needs, but they also offer social interaction that seniors truly need. These caregivers can also help seniors explore things like hobbies and interests that can keep their brains active and engaged.
Address Safety Issues in the Home
Safety issues are something that family caregivers need to look at more than once. Making changes now, like adding a ramp to the front stoop or adding more handrails inside the house, can be a huge help later. As seniors age and as their health needs change, there are likely to be other safety issues. Keeping a lid on clutter reduces tripping hazards, for example.
Put a Full Plan Together
Solving the problems that these questions uncover means making a plan. And that plan may have to be revised over time as well. Things change, needs change, and plans that worked in the past may no longer be effective. Working with home care providers helps family caregivers stay on top of what is working and what needs to be adjusted.
The first time that family caregivers need to figure out what types of support their aging family members need can be really intimidating. Working with home care providers makes the task easier and helps families adapt the plan as necessary.
