Top Five Things to Look for When Considering Whether Your Parents May Need Home Care

Senior Care in Newton, MA

Bringing in a referred caregiver for your aging loved ones can be one of the best decisions you can make to support their ongoing health and well-being as they age in place. As with any other decision in your care journey with them, however, you want to know that you are making the right decision for their needs. This means determining when it is time to start home care, and the extent of the care that your parents likely need.

The top things to look for when considering whether your parents may need to start a home care arrangement, or if you may need to increase the amount of care that they have on a regular basis, include:

• Increased instance of “accidents” in and out of the home. Some people are just prone to accidents, but if it seems like your parents are experiencing more falls, bumps, trips, near-miss fires, fender benders, or other accidents than they used to, it could be an indication of physical or cognitive challenges that could make itdd dangerous for them to live completely independently.
• Slow recovery after illness. If it seems like your parent has had a cold for several weeks or just cannot get over that sore throat, it might be an indication of a suppressed immune system, improper diet, poor hygiene, or other care gaps that put them at risk of serious health consequences.
• Slow recovery after injury. Your mother got a paper cut a week ago and it is still there. Your father twisted his ankle last month and is still limping. If it seems like your parents are having a difficult time recovering from a minor or moderate injury, there could be serious health conditions in play, or they could be over-stressing their bodies by trying to keep up with their care needs.
• Physical changes. Seniors that experience sudden marked weight loss or gain, or seem “frail” could be coping with a wide variety of issues including loss of appetite, various medical conditions, confusion, memory loss, or cognitive decline that makes it more difficult for them to eat properly and maintain their physical condition. These physical changes can also include greater difficulty walking, taking a longer time to stand up or sit down, or apparent problems breathing or moving.
• Hygiene problems. Body odor, dirty hair, unkempt facial hair, or dirty fingernails could be an indication that your parents are no longer able to keep up with their normal hygiene and grooming routine, that they are coping with cognitive challenges that have made them forget the need to bathe, or how to bathe, or mental illness such as depression that keeps them from having the motivation to take care of themselves.