We are living in something of a “golden age” for the elderly. People are living longer than ever before thanks to scientific breakthroughs, and the children of seniors are, by and large, more involved in their lives than ever before. But we grow older, every one of us will need more support, particularly if we wish to continue living independently, in our own homes, surrounded by the people and things that we love.
For many people, elder care is something that can be seen in black and white. Either the senior in your life is living at home, independently, or they need to be remanded to a residential care facility where they can be monitored 24/7, and lose their independence entirely. At HomeCentris Frederick, we understand that the picture is always more complicated. We also know that there is always more than one option.
Finding the Balance
The problem that we make it our business to address at HomeCentris Frederick involves a simple question of balance. In our case, the question is, “How can we help seniors and their families make sure that they get the level of care they need while maintaining their independence to the highest degree possible?”
That answer is, of course, different for everyone. But as important as it is to make sure that seniors live as independently as they are able, it is equally important that they and their families can recognize when it is time to intervene. In some cases, this may mean finding a residential facility for your loved one. In the vast majority of cases, however, geriatric home care is all that is required. The essential thing is being able to recognize the signs that additional care is necessary.
Signs That Someone I Love May Need Geriatric Home Care
If someone you love is exhibiting any of the following behaviors, it may be worth reaching out to a healthcare professional about your options.
- Nutrition: Has your loved one started skipping meals, or eating meals that are not nutritionally balanced? Have they begun to gain or lose weight?
- Medications: Has your loved one been able to keep up with a medication regimen, including taking the proper amounts at the appropriate times?
- Household management: Is your loved one able to manage the household — running errands, paying bills, bringing in the mail or newspaper — without help?
- Memory and behavior: Has your loved one begun to forget small things, like turning off the oven, or closing windows and doors? Has your loved one become moody, irritable, or has their behavior become inconsistent?
- Medical condition: Has your loved one recently been diagnosed with a condition that impairs or could impair their ability to live independently?
- Hygiene: Has your loved one become disheveled in appearance? Are they bathing or taking care of their appearance irregularly?
It is important to note that this following list is not comprehensive or definitive. But if you can answer “yes” to any of the above with regard to your loved one, their condition may require geriatric home care. And if you don’t reach out, their condition could deteriorate.
When It’s Time to Reach Out
If you are looking into geriatric home care, someone you love might likely benefit from some extra help. The important thing is to intervene early and to make sure that the senior in your life understands that getting help is nothing to be ashamed or afraid of.
In fact, having a trained home care professional to help out with senior care and organization will give the person you love more of a chance to spend their time and energy where it counts most: on the ones that they love. If you have questions about geriatric home care or think that someone you love might be ready for help, call HomeCentris Frederick today at 855.886.8710.
