Sometimes it’s hard to tell when an elderly member of your family needs help.
Certainly, if you ask them, they’re likely to say they are fine and don’t need assistance. They may even refuse help when it is freely offered. However, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from elderly care. If you’re uncertain whether your aging relative needs an elderly care provider, below are some signs that suggest they do.
High Fall Risk
Falls are a major cause of disability in older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every four seniors falls every year. If your aging relative has risk factors for falling, they may benefit from elderly care.
In addition to advanced age, risk factors for falling include:
- Having fallen before.
- Weakening of the muscles.
- Trouble with gait and balance.
- Vision problems.
- Conditions like arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke, and others.
Elderly care providers can prevent falls by helping the senior to get up from chairs, walking with them from room to room or when they are on outings, and keeping pathways uncluttered to prevent tripping.
Dirty House
If you notice that your aging relative isn’t keeping the house clean the way they once did, it could be because they are having mobility problems, can’t see well, or may be suffering from early stage dementia. You might notice that they are collecting piles of old magazines or newspapers or that the kitchen and bathroom appear unsanitary.
Elderly care offers housecleaning services, so they can keep your aging relative’s house clean and safer to live in.
Spoiled Food and Empty Cupboards
When you visit your older family member, take a moment to look in their refrigerator and cupboards. This may feel a bit nosey, but it will give you some sense of what they have been eating and whether they are eating well. If you find spoiled food, the senior may be at risk for food poisoning. Empty cupboards can indicate that they are having trouble with grocery shopping. You may also see a lot of easy to prepare processed foods that are unhealthy, which suggests they are having difficulty cooking.
Elderly care providers can take the older adult grocery shopping, helping them to choose healthy foods, push the heavy cart, and carry grocery bags. Elderly care providers can also prepare meals and snacks. If the elderly care provider does not come every day, they can make meals and snacks that can be refrigerated or frozen to be warmed up on later days.
If you or a family member are in need of a Caregiver in Pembroke Pines, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770.
Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.
Sources
CDC.gov/RiskFactors
CDC.gov/falls
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