Although physical or cognitive deterioration may make it very hard for the elderly to live independently, many want to remain in their own homes as long as they can. You may wonder if this is a good idea for your parents and how to tell if they can live independently. No seniors want to be bossed around by their children, so you must listen to what your seniors want.
However, if you know that your parents want to age in place at home but start noticing signs, they need more help. Hiring elder care to assist your senior with the tasks of daily living is the best way to ensure they age in place safely. Is your senior at the point of needing help? Here are some things to look for that may indicate this is the case:
- Lack of chores being done
- Daily tasks are being avoided
- Poor medication management
- Not changing out of clothes or doing laundry
- Not eating daily meals
- Not drinking enough liquids
- Avoiding doctor’s appointments
- Feeling lonely
- Difficulty with mobility
These are just some of the signs that your senior may need the help of elder if they truly want to age in place. It can be challenging deciding whether your senior can continue living at home, even with consistent support. Honestly, it depends on your senior parent. You need to evaluate their health conditions, diseases, mobility, and anything else about them that can reduce their safety at home.
Someone in the final stages of dementia, for example, will need more care than a senior that is relatively healthy. Not all seniors suffer from this disease and will be able to live at home for much longer. There are some good reasons why aging in place can be a great option.
It Helps Maintain Independence
No one likes to feel like they need to rely on others or feel like a burden. Aging in place can help lower these feelings and boost independence even with a caregiver present. Even with elder care providers, seniors can control their routine to start with and have a person help keep them on track. They have full control over the activities they do, hobbies they choose, and life decisions they want to be responsible for.
By aging in place, the elderly may retain more personal freedom. They have the liberty to live their life as they want, and they do it with dignity, which is rare among the older generation.
They Can Keep Familiar Routines
One of the main advantages of aging in place is that a senior can maintain the routines they love, and they don’t have to switch to a facility’s routine. This means they can have weekly visits with their kids and grandkids that work best for the entire family and attend the classes they want when they want.
It Can Be a Safe Environment
With the help of elder care, a senior’s home can be safe to live in. They may help declutter a space or throw things away to make it safer to live in. This is a place that seniors are familiar with and feel comfortable in, which can help improve their safety when they know where they are. There are no surprises in the home where they lived possibly for many years. Maintaining a familiar environment while other changes in physical ability occur can be invaluable in trying to remain safe at home.
Many seniors can continue living at home safely later into their lives with the help of elder care. A caregiver can be there as often as needed, which means elder care is flexible as it adapts to a senior’s changing needs. If you want to ensure your senior gets to live independently as long as possible, consider bringing in elder care today.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Elder Care in South Pasadena, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.