As your aging loved one gets older, it’s common for them to have difficulties taking care of themselves. Things like walking downstairs, completing household chores, and money management are just a few areas they may struggle with. While getting them the proper help can be a challenging task to take on, it’s important to do so as soon as possible to help their physical and emotional wellbeing.
According to the Pew Research Center, 27 percent of U.S. adults 60 and older live alone, that’s over 12 million older adults. And only 33 percent of them reported living comfortably. Choosing the right level of care is a significant decision for your family and it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
Here are some things you can do to help your aging loved one:
- Assess Their Needs
- Communicate With Your Loved One
- Check-In With Yourself
Assess Their Needs
Your loved one’s needs depend on a variety of factors and their unique situation. According to the Katz Index of Independence on Daily Living, the six essential skills one needs to live independently are Bathing and Showering, Continence, Dressing, Mobility, Feeding, and Toileting.
It’s also important to factor in the type of care your loved one prefers but also suits them best. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 61 percent of older adults would prefer to live in their own home with a caregiver. 17 percent would prefer to move to an assisted living facility while 8 percent would prefer to live with family, and 4 percent would prefer to move to a nursing home.
At Bluebird Homecare, we are dedicated to providing high-quality, in-home care at an affordable price to families and individuals who expect the best. Contact us for more information.
Communicate With Your Loved One
Throughout this process, it’s important that your loved one is involved and able to communicate their needs. It may also be difficult for them to ask for help and even know what to ask for. One key way is by asking them questions. This allows them to answer you directly and gives them room to tell stories about specific situations that will give you additional insight.
Another communication tool is to speak to them in person. By doing so, there is more room for clear communication rather than talking on the phone. This also allows for the conversation to occur in a comfortable environment with limited distractions.
Check-In With Yourself
When helping a loved one, it’s key that you check in with yourself and remember to take care of your own mental and physical health. A high amount of constant stress can lead to trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, and difficulty sleeping. Over time, this can severely impact your day-to-day life and make it hard for you to give your aging loved one the support they need.
One way of navigating stress is by involving your friends and family. By having an internal support team, you’ll have trusted loved ones that you can turn to in difficult times.
Bluebird Homecare can Support Your Loved One
At Bluebird Homecare, we provide in-home care tailored to your loved one’s specific needs. We understand that this is a very significant, and often difficult, change for everyone involved. But our professionals can help make that transition as easy as possible. It comes down to this: we will treat your family like our family. And our company leadership has a very simple rule of thumb: we won’t send anyone into your home that we wouldn’t send into our own homes.
Our services include:
- Condition Specific Care
- Companionship Services
- Laundry & Light Housekeeping
- Meal Preparation Help
- Personal Health & Hygiene Care
- Transportations, Outings & Errands Help
No matter what step you’re at in this process, we’re here to help you along the way. Contact us today to learn how Bluebird homecare can help your loved one remain safely in their home.