Warning Signs that May Point to the Need for Help at Home

“I definitely do NOT need to move to an assisted living facility!” This is a common sentiment proclaimed by many older adults, even when they begin to struggle with managing tasks at home independently. And who can blame them? Home is where we all feel safe and secure, and older adults are no exception. They’re familiar with where everything is located and they enjoy following their own particular routines. They may have friends and family living nearby, who add to their quality of life. Nonetheless, if you are beginning to feel concerned that a senior loved one’s safety at home may be compromised, it may be time to look into help at home.

The questions listed below, courtesy of New Horizons In-Home Care, providers of senior care services Salem families trust, will help you determine whether your loved one is as safe as possible, or if the senior might benefit from some additional assistance at home:

Weight Loss

• Has the older person lost weight unintentionally within the past few months?
• Can she manage grocery shopping and planning and preparing healthy meals?
• Does she practice safety in the kitchen, such as remembering to turn off the stove?
• Has she been complaining about the way food tastes?
• Is she drinking sufficient amounts of water along with other fluids throughout each day to prevent dehydration, particularly during the warmer summer months?

Personal Hygiene

• Is the senior properly keeping up her personal hygiene?
• Can she manage the tasks of laundry, bathing, grooming, and using the toilet appropriately?

Medications

• Does the senior take medications?
• Is she remembering to take them exactly when and how they are prescribed?
• Can she read and understand medication labels, and does she know what each medicine is for?
• Is she physically able to swallow pills, or otherwise take them as recommended (for instance, creams, liquids, crushed or broken pills, etc.)?

Home Safety

• Is the home free of clutter, which can present a tripping and falling hazard?
• Could the older person call for help if she were to fall?
• Are there grab bars in the bathroom, and are handrails on stairways attached securely?
• Is there adequate lighting to allow her to safely get up during the night to go to the bathroom or kitchen?
• Have you seen any cuts, bruises, scrapes, or burns that could have been caused by a fall or another unexplained accident?
• Is the kitchen clean and safe for preparing food?

Emotional, Cognitive, and Psychological Issues

• Does the older adult appear to be depressed or anxious?
• Is she remaining socially active as often as possible?
• If she is religious, is she attending services or programs that are of interest to her?
• Is she enjoying hobbies that have interested her in the past?
• Is she having memory problems? Unusually loud or distressed?
• Are her financial matters in order?

Discovering the answers to questions like these might seem daunting, but New Horizons In-Home Care is here to help. Our knowledgeable care team provides expert senior care services Salem area families trust to assess loved one’s situation and recommend solutions, offering you and your loved one peace of mind. Our expertly trained and experienced home care staff can provide a wide range of home care services, including companionship, light housekeeping tasks, preparing healthy meals, and so much more.

Contact us at 541-687-8851 in Eugene, 541-752-9059 in Corvallis, 503-400-3000 in Salem, or 541-997-8115 in Florence to request an in-home assessment, and find out how our expert care staff can provide the help at home needed to keep seniors safe and thriving.