Is your elderly loved one having difficulty living alone at home lately? Have you thought about senior care options for them, but they wish to stay at home and keep living independently? If this is the case, home health care services may be the ideal choice for your older relative. If you’re unsure whether your senior family member truly requires assistance or whether they could benefit from home care services, here are several indications to watch for that indicate your loved one may require home care services if they wish to remain at home: Home Care Services Minneapolis Minnesota
A Messy Home
When a loved one’s home is starting to become habitually and uncharacteristically messy or dirty, this is an indication that they may require assistance with everyday tasks. Clutter, waste, and/or recycling accumulations, piles of unwashed dishes, and unwashed and/or unfolded laundry, are all examples of such. Moreover, you may also notice that the grass in their yard is overgrown, gardens aren’t being tended to, or the snow in front of their house might not be shoveled. Other safety concerns, like lights, fire alarms, and/or carbon monoxide detectors not being changed in a timely manner, may also pose safety risks to your elderly family member as well. A disorderly, unkempt, and unsanitary home is usually an indication of a problem regarding home maintenance, and also an indication that help is needed with certain tasks.
Difficulty Driving
Driving is a sensitive topic to bring up to seniors as driving is the pinnacle of independence for many people. However, it’s important to look for signs that driving may no longer be safe for your elderly relative. Signs may include things like traffic tickets, fender-benders, and damages to their vehicle or to others’ vehicles/property as a result of their driving. Go for a drive with your family member if you can in order to get a firsthand look at how they drive. Since they do not have alternative transportation, many people drive much beyond what is considered safe for them. If you’ve determined that it’s no longer safe for your loved one to be driving, then you should consider other alternative transportation options for them, such as in-home care, which can provide transportation services for elders.
Unable To Manage Medications
Medication mismanagement or failure to take prescribed prescriptions can have serious consequences for your loved one. That’s why it’s good to check your loved one’s meds to see if they are stored in a weekly pillbox and to see if they’ve been taking them. Check to see if any of their prescriptions have expired or if any of them are in need of refills. If your loved one is experiencing difficulties when it comes to managing prescriptions, then an in-home caregiver may be needed to assist them with their medication management.
If your loved one requires home care, please contact Pinnacle Home Care, the top home care agency in Minneapolis MN, to learn more about our services.
