When is it Time to Start Home Care Assistance?

Serving as a caregiver for a loved one can be stressful. We all want the best for our family members, but taking care of an aging parent or spouse is a time-consuming job that can be draining both physically and emotionally.  

However, home care assistance can alleviate that burden, offering an array of services from helping clients bathe, brush their teeth, get dressed, use the restroom, eat and drink, get in and out of bed, walk or climb stairs. Additionally, this type of in-home care can lend a hand with cleaning, doing laundry, grocery shopping, meal preparation, organizing bills, picking up prescriptions, ensuring medications are taken on time, traveling to doctor’s appointments and even attending social events.  

When Is It Time to Think About Adult Care?  

As we age, the onset of illness and chronic conditions, as well as normal changes to the body and mind, can make everyday tasks difficult to accomplish. When this happens, it might be time to consider home care assistance to ensure your loved one is able to continue aging with dignity in their own house. Here are some signs that home care is needed:  

• A growing lack of personal hygiene  

• Increasing mobility issues or a recent fall 
• Unexplained weight loss or gain 
• A decline in hearing or vision  
• Forgetfulness or memory issues 
• Missed medical appointments 
• Difficulty with tasks such as cooking, cleaning or driving  
• Feelings of loneliness 

Things to Discuss With Aging Parents 

Most people value their independence and many find it difficult to ask for help. So, broaching the topic of home care assistance may be a difficult conversation to have with aging parents, but it’s an important discussion, nonetheless. Here are some tips to begin talking about the issue. 

• Plan for the future. Begin talking about home care solutions before they are needed so your loved ones can express how they want to handle the issue when the time comes. 

• Do your research. Before starting the conversation, look into the different options that are available. 
• Be honest. Share your concerns about any challenges you face when juggling your career, home life, and their care as surveys show that many older Americans don’t want to be a burden on their families and may be willing to accept help if it takes some weight off your shoulders. 
• Talk about the benefits. Keep the conversation positive by focusing on the ways that a caregiver can support your loved one’s needs rather than all of the reasons they require assistance. 
• Make it a team effort. Explore home care solutions together with your aging parents. Allowing them to meet with home care companies and be part of the decision-making process is empowering and can make the change less scary. 
• Give it a trial run. Consider hiring an in-home caregiver on a short-term basis to fill in when you need time away. This offers parents a chance to try it out and, perhaps, become more open to ongoing care.  
• Be understanding. Change can be scary, especially when older adults feel like they’re losing control of their independence. Listen and show empathy as you discuss alternative options to help them retain some control. 

Support From Home Care Assistance  

When you’re ready to start the conversation about senior care, home care assistance and the benefits this can provide for elderly parents or other loved ones, FirstLight Home Care offers support by answering questions and working to create a partnership based on trust, communication and your family’s unique needs. To learn more about our services, contact us today! 

E: coneal@firstlighthomecare.com