You know the routine. You stop in at your loved one’s home for your daily, bi-weekly, or weekly visit and you begin to wonder if they could use some help around the home that they so desperately want to continue to live in. You ask if they could use any help and the answer you get is a resounding “No!” They’ll tell you they have everything under control and they’re doing just fine, but you’re wondering if they could benefit from some home care services help.
Many times seniors don’t want to ask for help from a home care provider because they’re fearful of losing their independence. They may think it’ll be the beginning of a slippery slope that will lead them right out of their home and into a senior facility. Because of that, they may not always be completely honest when you ask how they are managing, and as a caregiver, it’s up to you to do a little investigating on your own to see if having a home care provider visit a few times a week can help them stay in their home and live independently.
Here are five areas you can check out to get an idea of how your loved one is doing.
The study or the desk. If your loved ones have a study where they take care of business and pay bills, walk on in and look at the desk and see what the bill pile looks like. Are they all paid up to date or do you see a large pile of bills that haven’t been reviewed lately? If your loved one has voice mail, check to see if you hear bill collectors leaving messages on the machine.
The garage or driveway. If your loved ones are still driving, head to this area to check their car. How does it look? Is it safe for driving (no lights on the dashboard blinking furiously, the windshields are clean, the tires look full)? Also, look for new dents and scratches that may indicate your loved one is struggling with driving and could use a home care provider to help with transportation.
The fridge. See if the food inside is fresh, as well as what your loved ones are eating. If all you are seeing are boxes of frozen pizza in the freezer, they might need some help preparing healthy meals. Also, check expiration dates and make sure any leftovers more than a couple of days old are tossed.
The bathroom. Look at how your loved ones are managing their medications. Are they taking them as prescribed? Do they have old prescriptions that need to be tossed? A home care provider can help with medication management so your loved ones take the medications they need and toss them when they’re done.
The overall living space. By just taking a look around, do you see areas of the home that need to be cleaned? Maybe your loved ones can’t dust those high spots anymore or vacuum the stairs. Home care providers can help with light housework.
If you see any areas that your loved ones seem to be struggling with, encouraging them to allow assistance will help them stay in their home longer and continue their independent lives.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Jackson TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (731) 300-2300
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Jackson, Humboldt, Medina, Milan, Trenton, Brownsville, Madison County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
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