5 Warning Signs Your Elderly Needs Immediate Assistance

While it may seem challenging for you to come to terms with the reality of your elderly’s situation, you might not have much of a choice, especially when they’re approaching a certain age.

Studies show that around 88% of people say that helping an aging parent is rewarding.

Finding the right care environment for your beloved elderly is no easy task and requires considerable research. Retirement homes and in home caregivers are some of the available options. While the former option does not always please the elderly due to a lack of freedom and independence, in home caregiving is a viable option for them.

Another vital question is evaluating when it’s the right time to provide care to your elderly. To answer this, the experts in senior home care offer some alarming signs that your elderly needs assistance.

• Disheveled Appearance:

“Appearances are often deceptive” is an apt proverb.

However, you shouldn’t go by this proverb when caring for your aging parent. There always comes the point where a senior ceases to care about their appearance.

This sign may come to light when they compromise on their personal hygiene, which eventually may lead to health issues. For instance, skipping baths may increase the risk of health issues like skin rashes.

Ensure to take up this issue with your elderly in private as it may embarrass them if brought up otherwise. Inquire about what’s stopping them from regular baths as chances are they may be afraid of falling in the bathroom.

A research conducted by Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, 2011 stated that caregivers, on an average, spend:

• 13 days a month on food preparation, laundry, housekeeping, medications, transportation, and associated tasks.
• 6 days a month on feeding, grooming, dressing, bathing, walking, and assistance toileting.
• 13 hours a month researching care services.

With home caregiver services, caregivers may help your elderly with numerous tasks. They may assist them with activities like washing, grooming, and dressing.

• Behavioral Changes:

You may notice these signs as bounced checks, late payments, or large stacks of unopened mail. Or, you may see that your elderly’s home appears dirty or cluttered, or their refrigerator has rotten or expired food stuff.

These changes may come as a surprise to you, especially when they previously kept their home clean. The clutter may point towards the lost interest in their (once) favorite activities or switched sleeping patterns. Behavioral changes may also include increased agitation or severe mood swings.

• Hassle with Managing Medications:

When constant reminders and weekly pill organizers fail to help your elderly keep track of their medications, it might be a sign they require additional help.

Managing their daily medications is a role that expert home caregiver services may perform and help your loved one.

• Deteriorating Social Life:

The senior years are often when the senior no longer have friends to spend time with. Additionally, they may face challenges with driving, walking and traveling to places, causing a lack of independence and eventually isolation.

A study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco enumerates that around 40% of seniors experience loneliness. And disappointingly, the feeling of disconnection and separation may cause serious health problems or even death.

In home care services for seniors provide companionship where caregivers take seniors to places to help them socialize with people of their age.

• Dexterity Differences:

Does your older adult drop things a lot, appear clumsy, and have an altered gait? These signs may be hard to recognize, initially, as you may assume them to be stemming from stress or tiredness- primarily when other close family members wish to accept that something’s wrong.

However, always take action if you happen to notice these things before it’s too late. Your senior is suffering from health problems, which may require immediate assistance. Additionally, having caregivers is a worthwhile option as professionals can assist with mobility issues.

Final Walkthroughs

Make sure to talk to your beloved senior openly, if you notice any warning signs.

Additionally, you may get in touch with trusted in-home care professionals like Caresmartz who have the necessary expertise and home care software to assist seniors with daily tasks like exercising, cooking, bathing, etc. You or your elderly may also schedule tasks on the go and hire caregivers with complete ease.

In the end, it’s all about providing high-quality and compassionate care for your loved one!