For a senior, it might be difficult to admit that, due to age or illness, they may need some assistance to perform their day-to-day tasks. They would want to be independent for as long as possible or they did not want to be a burden to their loved ones.
Therefore, you need to be aware of the signs that they are no longer capable of being on their own. You might need to hire home care personnel to attend to their needs or bring them to a nursing home for long-term care.
Issues in Hygiene
When you visit, is your elderly loved one wearing clothes that are uncleaned? Is their hair uncombed? Do they smell bad?
The lack of proper hygiene is one telltale sign that a senior may not be capable of looking after themself anymore. It might be caused by problems such as difficulties in motor functions due to a reduction in muscle strength or joint flexibility. It might be a symptom of a serious illness like Alzheimer’s.
Sit them down to discuss the issue. You should find out why they are not able to maintain proper hygiene. You should also bring them to a doctor for a thorough checkup to detect and treat an underlying health condition.
Loss of Appetite
You should always check on your elderly loved one’s eating habits. Are their fridge stocked with healthy and fresh foods? Are they cooking well-balanced meals three times a day? Are they properly hydrated?
Weight loss, especially if immediate and drastic, should be a cause for alarm. They may have a medical issue that should be addressed as soon as possible. If that is not the case, perhaps it is time for you to hire a helper to come every day and prepare their meals. You may also get them a subscription to a meal delivery service so that they do not have to do their groceries or cook their own food.
Cluttered Home
Stacks of unopened mail, a pile of laundry, or dishes left in the sink are signs that your senior loved one can no longer keep their home tidy on their own. At their age, bending down to pick up an item on the floor or reaching up to dust the cupboards may cause injury.
Help them out by hiring a housekeeper to maintain the cleanliness inside your aging relative’s home.
Unexplained Bruises and Cuts
You should be wary about wounds and other minor injuries. If they get hurt a lot and if they do not always remember what caused the bruise, scratch, or cut, they may need to have a companion in their home at all times.
You should also inspect if their house needs a geriatric makeover. Maybe the sharp edge of their kitchen counter is wounding them. Perhaps a piece of furniture is on the way and the constantly bump into it.
If an aging individual insists on living at home on their own, there should be major changes to reduce the risk of accidents. This age group is vulnerable to falls which can cause them serious harm that may need urgent medical care.
It is best to assess their home yourself and see how you can make it senior-friendly.
The best way to get your senior loved one help if they need it is to talk to them. They might resist, but it is necessary to ensure their safety.
