No matter how long your senior family member has lived in her home, there may come a time when it really does become dangerous for her to remain there by herself. That’s a conversation that your senior may not be excited about having, but it’s one that you do need to address and preferably sooner rather than later if she’s experiencing some of these situations.
When She’s Recovering from Surgery or a Serious Illness
After an illness or injury, including surgery, your elderly family member might not be able to be alone for a while. Recovery can take time and if your elderly family member is pushing herself by trying to handle too much on her own, that can set her recovery back by more than she expects. Having in-home care providers there with her can give you peace of mind and improve her chances of recovering quickly.
When She’s Easily Confused or Disoriented
Cognitive changes that cause your elderly family member to be disoriented or confused can be scary for both of you. It might be that she can still stay in her own home with a little help. Having caregivers around can keep your senior from experiencing truly unsafe situations, and remaining in her home with that level of help can also help her to feel calmer overall.
When Her Home Is Unsafe
If your senior is having a difficult time with daily tasks, she’s probably also having trouble with bigger home maintenance tasks. Ultimately, this can impact the safety of her home in a big way. Assuming that there aren’t structural issues, home care providers might be able to keep up with the routine household tasks that can keep your senior a lot safer in her home.
When She’s Not Eating Well
It’s vital that your elderly family member is eating regularly and that those meals and snacks are as healthy as possible. The reason for that is that her body needs nutrients in order to keep all of its systems functioning properly. When meal preparation is getting difficult or your senior just doesn’t feel like cooking, that can have long-term consequences for her health. Help from in-home care providers can ensure that your senior is eating foods that support her well-being.
When She’s Afraid to Be Alone
At some point, your senior may start to feel uncomfortable being alone for long periods of time. That’s especially true if she’s not as mobile as she used to be. That fear can cause her to make some decisions that aren’t in her best interests overall. Keeping your senior safe means that she may want to consider having some help from in-home care professionals on a regular basis.
Even if your elderly family member shouldn’t be alone in her home anymore, that doesn’t necessarily mean that she has to move out right away. There are options, like home care assistance, that can keep her safe and keep her in her own home where she is comfortable. It’s worth exploring those options.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME CARE IN SANTA CLARA, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.