How to Assess Your Loved One's Ability to Practice Self Care
What to Do if You Suspect Your Aging Loved One Cannot Continue Caring for Themselves
Sometimes there are obvious signs that your aging loved one cannot safely continue living alone and caring for themselves. In other cases, you may not be sure whether they need additional help or not, but you mustn’t wait until disaster strikes to bring in additional support.
If you believe your loved one’s ability to live independently is declining, start by observing the following and acting quickly if you notice any of these signs of trouble:
- Personal hygiene: Inability to launder their own clothing and linens, unpleasant body odor due to infrequent bathing, unkempt hair and physical appearance, bad breath due to lack of tooth brushing, wearing soiled clothing
- Driving habits: New dings and scratches, multiple traffic tickets, agitated or anxious emotional state while driving, near misses with other drivers and pedestrians
- Finances: Signs of excessive spending, stacks of unpaid bills and late notices, multiple calls from creditors and collectors
- Meals and medication: Inconsistency in self-administration of medication and meal preparation, regularly missing doses and meals, not drinking enough fluids, worsened symptoms of medical issues for which they are currently taking medication, leaving the stove or oven on for too long, pill bottles laying around the house without any apparent organization
- Mobility: Inability to shower, stand up out of a chair, get out of bed, or move around by themselves, difficulty holding objects such as full glasses of water, pots and pans, etc., instability that could make it challenging for them to use stairs or walk from room to room without injuring themselves
We Offer a Helping Hand for Family Caregivers in Texas
When you call At Home Healthcare, we can help you evaluate your loved one’s current capabilities and provide them with the support they need. We are equipped to help you care for your loved one at their current level of health and adjust their care as their needs develop.
We currently provide a wide range of in-home care services for people of all ages, including:
- Nursing services
- Attendant services
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Home health aides
- Companion care
- Respite care
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s care
- Transitional care (hospital to home)
If you believe your loved one needs (or will soon need) professional support, consider bringing in our compassionate, experienced, highly skilled team members to provide competent support for your child or aging family member. We can help alleviate your stress as a family caregiver and give you greater peace of mind during this season of your loved one’s life.
Call (877) 959-9093 to learn about our in-home care services in Texas or click to request care today.