"IS IT TIME"

Are you concerned with your loved one’s quality of life?

While working I meet Seniors and their families on daily basis. And there is always the question: Is it time? How do you assess if your loved ones could benefit from In-Home care?

I always say “It IS time.” Once you are concerned with your loved one’s quality of life it is time to sit down and evaluate. But what are the questions you should ask yourself? Lets start with the big ones:
Is assistance needed for dressing? How about bathing?
Does your loved one need assistance for general activities of daily living.
Does your loved one confuse daily medication or forget to take them?
Have you noticed difficulty with hygiene? Incontinence?

But daily living and quality of life does not stop there. Has your loved one forgotten safety issues in the kitchen, bathroom and throughout the home?

Do they have daily access to nourishing foods? Or is shopping for food and meal preparation is a challenge? “Meals on Wheels” is a great solution, however, at time can become bland and unappetizing. Some keep the leftovers for too long and run the risk of eating spoiled food. I met a man who showed me a refrigerator full of a week worth of food from “Meals on Wheels” that he missed eating and was hoping to get to.

Loneliness and isolation are big issues seniors facing. Can you drop everything and take your loved one to medical or personal appointments. Can you supply enough socialization to help your loved one with loneliness or depression. Can you provide opportunities for outings, walks, hobbies, etc?

If any of the questions made you think, then it is time to sit down and seriously talk about bringing in help. Too many people confuse CAREING with doing, you don’t have to do everything yourself.