As your senior loved one ages, his or her health may decrease, making it difficult to complete various daily activities without assistance. Cognitive decline could also increase the risk of injuries, illnesses, and preventable accidents. It is important to recognize when your loved one needs constant care at home. Here are a few signs your loved one may need around-the-clock care.
Progression of an Age-Related Disease
There are various diseases seniors are at higher risk of developing, including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, some forms of cancer, and diabetes. When these diseases progress, a senior’s overall health and safety are in jeopardy. During the early stages of a serious medical condition, your loved one may only need help with light housework, medication management, and transportation. However, as the diseases progress, he or she may require comprehensive and continuous help in the form of live-in care.
Living with a serious health condition can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Portland seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
Bad Personal Hygiene
Bad hygiene could lead to isolation and bacterial infections that have a negative effect on mental and physical health. If you notice your loved one is not taking baths, avoiding laundry, and allowing clutter and debris to build up, it may be time for live-in care. Activities like bathing, brushing teeth, and cleaning up the home become more challenging when seniors develop mobility and balance issues. If you can no longer help with personal hygiene tasks, it may be time to hire a live-in caregiver. With the help of a live-in caregiver, your loved one can reduce the risk of developing dangerous infections and other health conditions.
Frequently Occurring Hallucinations and Wandering
Seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease often wander and experience hallucinations. They typically experience behavioral issues and changes during the evening hours or later at night, and these changes may become too much for family caregivers to manage. If your loved one experiences sundowning, live-in care is the ideal choice. You can have peace of mind knowing someone is helping your loved one manage the hallucinations and preventing wandering.
Alzheimer’s disease is a serious medical condition that can impact your loved one’s overall quality of life. If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Align Home Care, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Portland seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to.
Appearance of Unexplainable Cuts, Scratches, and Bruises
Seniors who have difficulty moving around could bump into furniture or fall down the stairs, causing bruises, scratches, and other health concerns. Memory and mobility issues could also cause older adults to have accidents in the bathroom and kitchen areas. When you notice cuts, bruises, and scratches on your loved one’s body, it’s time to consider live-in care. If your loved one wants to continue living at home instead of moving to an assisted living facility, live-in care is the best option. Your loved one will have a caregiver inside of the home to assist with cooking, cleaning, grooming, and other daily activities. He or she can also receive help moving around the home safely, which could reduce the risk of accidents and injuries that cause cuts, scratches, and bruises.
If your senior loved one needs professional in-home care in Align Home Care is here to help. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors. To learn about our high-quality in-home care plans, call us at (207) 835-3490 today.