Signs It Is Time for Senior Care
Senior care is a service that sends qualified and experienced staff members to your aging relative’s home to assist them with non-medical needs. Some of the things senior care providers can do include cooking healthy meals, light house cleaning, laundry, and other household tasks. Senior care providers can also help older adults to take care of themselves by assisting them with dressing, bathing, and grooming.
Sometimes it’s very easy to see that your loved one needs help at home, such as when they have a serious illness, like cancer, or when they injure themselves, perhaps by breaking a hip. Other times, though, it’s not as obvious. When you know the signs to watch for, making the decision to hire senior care can be easier. Below are some signs that indicate your older family member may need assistance to remain in their home.
Changes in Eating Habits
Senior Care Skokie, IL: Signs It Is Time for Senior Care
If your older family member seems to be losing weight, it could indicate that they are having trouble making meals for themselves. They may have decided cooking for one is too much trouble, or they could be forgetting to eat. Cooking might also be too difficult for them due to physical or cognitive limitations. Another thing that can suggest they need help with making meals is having very little food in the kitchen or food that is spoiled.
Forgetfulness
Older adults who frequently forget important pieces of information, like appointments or where they parked the car, may be suffering from cognitive decline, like dementia. An occasional slip is normal, but if it happens frequently, they should be evaluated and may need the assistance of senior care to keep them safe and help them remember things that need to be done.
Poor Hygiene
Watch for signs that the senior isn’t keeping up with personal care. Body odor, bad breath, and dirty hair are indicators they are neglecting personal hygiene. This can mean they have a physical problem that makes bathing difficult, but it can also be a sign of depression or dementia.
Withdrawing from Activities
Once active seniors may stop doing the things they once enjoyed. For example, if your elderly father met his friends once a week for coffee at the local café, but has stopped going, it could be because he worries about falling, doesn’t hear well, is depressed, is having trouble driving, or many other reasons.
Holding Furniture When Walking
Older adults who hold on to furniture and walls when walking may be having mobility problems. Perhaps their balance is poor, or they are having joint pain. They may also feel weak or dizzy. Make sure they are seen by a doctor as these things can lead to dangerous falls.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care in Skokie, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources
https://health.usnews.com/senior-care/caregiving/articles/2018-02-09/what-are-the-signs-your-aging-parents-need-help
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/aging-parents/art-20044126
https://www.nextavenue.org/10-signs-older-person-may-need-help/
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