When Are Senior Home Care Services Needed?
After the age of 65, there’s a 70% chance your dad will need long-term care services at some point in his life. How do you know when it’s time to schedule senior home care services visits for him?
Senior Home Care Sanger CA – When Are Senior Home Care Services Needed?
The best way is to pay attention. During your visits with him, pay attention to the things he does without pause. He walks up and down the stairs without issue and is happy doing his laundry. But, you’ve noticed that he doesn’t cook. He has a hard time following a recipe and reading ingredient lists.
As you notice these things, start building a list of the tasks he cannot complete without help. That’s your first indicator that senior home care services are necessary.
Areas to Inspect Within the Home
Look around your dad’s home for indicators that he’s struggling to take care of himself. Is the refrigerator empty or filled with processed, low-nutrition meals and snacks? Is there a lot of clutter or signs that he’s hoarding unnecessary items like newspapers, books, and magazines?
Check his mail to see if it’s organized. Has he been paying his bills on time or are there late notices? You may want to sit down and help him get online banking and automatic payments arranged to ensure he doesn’t forget to pay a bill and have his water or electricity shut off.
Can He Still Drive?
Does your dad still drive or is his vision or reaction times too poor? If he has stopped driving, is he able to arrange transportation? Does someone stop by regularly to take him shopping and get him out of the house?
Talk to His Doctor
Ask your dad’s doctor if there are things your dad isn’t doing as well as he should. Has he been seeing his doctor and dentist as often as he should? Is he up-to-date on tests and vaccinations? By his 60s, he should have had at least one colonoscopy and regular blood tests to look for high cholesterol, diabetes, etc.
You might learn that your dad has high blood pressure and often forgets to take his pills each day. If he’s missing any doses, it’s a good time to discuss medication reminders and other techniques that ensure he doesn’t overlook his pills each day.
Find out what he’s supposed to be doing to improve his health. If he has diabetes and has been told to walk each day, ask your dad if he does that. If he says he can’t be bothered, find out why. He may need companionship services for motivation.
It’s Time to Get Started with Senior Home Care Services
It’s easy to get your dad set up with caregiver visits. Take that list you’ve built and call a senior home care specialist. Discuss your dad’s strengths and weaknesses. During that call, you’ll find out more about the available senior home care services and prices.
Sources: https://acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-will-you-need#
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care Services in Sanger CA, please contact the caring staff at Everlight Home Care today. Call us at 559-353-2847.
Private Duty Home Care in Fresno, Madera, Kern Counties, and surrounding communities. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This combination of experiences has afforded Gina a unique view of the needs of the aging and the disabled and how to best serve those needs in a home setting.
Gina’s Central Valley roots run deep. She earned her BA degree from Fresno State in 1993 and has lived and worked in Fresno for the past 20 years. In addition to raising her family in Fresno, she is actively involved in her local church and is a volunteer for various local community organizations.
- November’s Employee of the Month - November 21, 2024
- How Does Respite Care Help Families Find Balance? - November 15, 2024
- Tips for Helping Your Loved One Retire From Driving - November 4, 2024