Many a family caregiver wonders when it’s time to bring in extra assistance for their aging family member. Your senior might be okay with the idea or she might be irritated to even discuss it. No matter where she falls on that spectrum, there are factors you need to look at a little more closely.
Your Senior’s Appearance Is Different
Lots of people make small changes to their appearance all the time. But when it comes to your senior and knowing when she needs more help, you’re looking for signs that she’s not doing as well as she did. She may be losing or gaining weight without trying to do so. Or she may be having more trouble with hygiene and doing things like getting dressed. These appearance-related signs can be a big indication.
Her House Seems Different in Some Ways
Just as your senior’s physical appearance tells you something is happening, so too does the appearance of her home. She may be having more difficulty keeping up with household tasks, which can become a health hazard given enough time. Your elderly family member may not be keeping up with clutter or with things like her mail, which can start to pile up. Some of the details may seem like no big deal, but when you take them all together, what do they tell you?
Your Senior Is Having More Trouble with ADLs
ADLs, or activities of daily living, are those activities that people do on a regular daily basis as a part of life. Those types of activities include getting dressed, bathing, and brushing her teeth and hair. Appearance changes can let you know that your senior may be having trouble with ADLs, but there can be other signs, too. Check your elderly family member’s refrigerator, for example. If she’s not grocery shopping, she may not be eating well.
You’re Noticing Changes in Her Emotional and Mental Health
Perhaps the changes you’re noticing are more in how your elderly family member interacts with you and other people. If she’s being short with people now and that’s not typical for her, then she may be experiencing changes related to her mental and emotional health. Is she forgetting important facts and details? That may need some more attention to determine what’s going on.
There’s no one answer that lets you know it’s time to bring in a caregiver for your senior. You really need to go with your gut and pay attention to what you’re seeing.
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Allenton, FL, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers of Bradenton. Call today: (941) 499-5946.
