After spending the holiday with aging loved ones, some family members might wonder if their parents are thriving at home. While it is true that many older adults can benefit from some extra support to feel their best and remain as independent as possible, not all older adults necessarily need residential care, such as assisted living.
If you are feeling a little worried about your aging parent after the past few months, here are some signs that they might benefit from some help (but aren’t quite ready for assisted living or other senior living solutions).
Stress Over Managing Meal Planning and Preparation
Trying to find the time and energy to plan for three meals per day, shop for ingredients, and prepare recipes for one can be a challenge for many older adults. If your loved one expresses stress or frustration over this task, or if you notice they are relying on take-out food or more processed food options lately, they could benefit from support from a visiting caregiver. The right caregiver will get to know what your loved one enjoys eating and will help them plan for the upcoming week, grocery shop, and even prepare meals for them during their visits.
Feelings of Loneliness or Isolation
Older adults living at home alone can feel lonely or left out of their family and friend circles. This is normal. However, if that loneliness becomes a chronic feeling, it can lead to more serious health complications including depression, anxiety, and even accelerated memory loss. Here’s some good news, though: consistent interaction with others outside of the family unit can reduce those negative complications of loneliness.
A visiting caregiver is a consistent and friendly presence in the lives of seniors living at home. Not only can the senior and caregiver form a meaningful relationship, but the caregiver can also support the senior by getting them to and from other social events, such as a meal at the senior center or a coffee group at their place of worship.
No Energy to Keep Up with Household Chores
Keeping up with laundry and cleaning is enough to make any of us exhausted! However, as seniors get older, they might struggle with other factors like chronic pain or fatigue that can make those tasks seem even more tiresome. Your loved one should not be spending their day’s energy and time on completing laundry or tidying up; it doesn’t benefit them and can leave them feeling too tired to do other positive things that can contribute to their wellness.
Take some of that burden off your loved one by hiring an in-home caregiver to help out with light housekeeping and laundry. When your loved one doesn’t have to worry about these tasks, they will often “come to life”, finding more time and energy to take a stroll around the block, call a family member, or even make their favorite dinner.
Home Care Vs. Assisted Living
Today’s older adults have multiple solutions when it comes to support, including home care and senior living communities. And while assisted living communities certainly have their benefits, not all older adults who are slightly struggling at home need to move in. Instead, family members can partner with home care agencies to find that extra, personalized assistance that will enhance independence and feelings of self-worth.
Learn more about the services that we provide here at CaringGivers, and then contact us to tell us more about your loved one. We’d be happy to come alongside your family to ensure your loved one is feeling their best while remaining in the home they love.