Signs That Your Loved One Requires Home Care

Difficulty Driving

Older adults and driving can be a complicated subject to talk about, but it is important to review your own or a loved one’s driving abilities as they age. How is their reaction time? Do they have frequent collisions or signs of reckless driving? Do they often forget to follow or are confused by street signs and signals? When you notice that you or a loved one is having difficulties with these things, it could be a sign to use home care services to give support in everyday tasks and allow them to stay safe inside the home. While home care services can also be a difficult topic to discuss, home care allows them to receive assistance in the home so they can remain in the home with independence, and have assistance in driving to avoid accidents in the future.

Poor Hygiene

Having poor hygiene is another sign that your loved one may need additional assistance at home. Regular activities of daily living that once used to be done with ease become difficult or almost impossible for some, putting them at greater risk for health decline or an accident to happen that could require hospitalization. From Live-in care services to hourly home health aides, home care services through Legacy Home Care can assist for as little as 3 hours or as much as 24 hours per day with live-in caregiver assistance. Ensuring that a loved is continuously in a safe environment helps them stay home where they wish to age!

Problems With Medications

Medications can be confusing and hard to remember, even if someone is only taking one or two different prescription medications. These areas of our health are something that we should always pay diligent attention to. If you notice a loved one taking multiple days worth of medications, confusing information on the pill bottle, taking incorrect doses, or even not taking it at all; It might be time to benefit from additional assistance in the home! Nurse Care Management Services through Legacy Home Care can offer cost effective services that include weekly visits from an in-home nurse to assist in preventing illness and injuries, medication management, and other wellness checks and evaluations. Remember, if you have any specific questions regarding you or a loved one’s medications to always contact their Pharmacist or Primary Care Provider.

Weight Loss 

As we age, our bodies change. This isn’t something that is out of the ordinary, but it is still important to note drastic changes in a loved one’s weight or complexion. Someone who once used to cook regularly before a surgery may not have the ability to do so anymore. Maybe their diet is more restricted due to health factors. There are a number of reasons that a change in someone’s weight and complexion can be signs that additional assistance may be needed to stay safe at home. If your loved one is unable to cook for themselves, it is important to find a reliable source for nutritious meals like home care services or organizations like Meals on Wheels and Loaves and Fishes, MN.

A Cluttered Home

While finding a reliable source for nutritious meals is important, it is also important to ensure that key areas of the home are easily accessible. A home that has obstacles blocking access to bathrooms, kitchens, or even hallways can make for an unsafe living situation. Additionally, incorporating items like grab bars and railings in bathrooms and stairways or slip mats in showers and slippery areas of the home are great first steps to ensure that proper precautions are taken to stay safe at home as we age.

While these are some of the most common signs to look for with yourself or an aging loved one, they aren’t the only ones. Changes in physical strength, sight and hearing, sleep patterns and energy levels are also additional areas to pay attention to. Being able to notice a change in any one of these areas, and take the needed steps to address them, could help save you from an injury or a trip to the hospital!

For more information about Legacy Home Care and how we can work to help you stay comfortable at home, call us today at 763.593.1000 or check out our online workbook ‘7 Steps to Support Your Aging Parent’