A close relative has reached an age when living alone is no longer feasible. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should start looking into assisted living facilities. Instead, talk with a representative from a local home care agency and see what can be done. Here are some of the reasons why that conversation needs to take place.
Your Loved One Needs Help
There’s no denying that your loved one is living with less strength, decreased mobility, and some loss of dexterity. While there are still plenty of things that he or she can do, other tasks are more difficult. The right approach to caregiving will compensate for those changes.
Simply put, home care ensures your loved one has help when and as needed. That eliminates the potential for your loved one to take on some task that is now more than he or she can manage alone. Instead, the caregiver will see to it.
But Your Loved One Isn’t Ready to Move
Perhaps some discussions of moving out of the home and into some sort of assisted living facility have already taken place. Given that he or she can still do quite a bit without assistance, it would be good to honor those wishes for now.
The right caregiving solution will make everyone happier. Your loved one continues to live in the home, which means so much. At the same time, you have the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone is there to manage whatever needs doing.
Minimizing Risk to Your Loved One
You’ve already become aware of a few instances where your loved one overdid it. All of them involved tasks around the house that used to be easily accomplished but are now too difficult physically. The good news is that no injuries have occurred so far. Still, the next time could be different.
Making arrangements with a home care agency will mean someone can be there to ensure nothing happens to your loved one. The support can range from taking care of the cooking to making sure your loved one can bathe safely. Everyone benefits when their loved one is not at risk of being injured.
Making Sure Nothing Essential is Overlooked
While much of the focus is on taking care of physical needs, there’s another aspect to consider. It does seem as if your loved one is getting more forgetful. It’s not a matter of the mind wandering as much as forgetting things like taking morning medicine or that there’s a doctor’s appointment today.
A caregiver can help by making sure nothing is overlooked. That includes reminders to take medication before a meal or that a doctor’s appointment is coming up tomorrow. See this as a way to make life easier for your loved one and for the rest of the family.
Now is a good time to explore all possible options. You may find that home care provided by a qualified professional is ideal for your loved one. If so, setting up this type of arrangement will ensure that everyone remains happy and safe for a long time to come.
