When your loved ones get older, it can be difficult to broach the subject of in-home care.
As some people age, their ability to perform physical tasks will diminish. You may start to notice cooking, cleaning, or going out to run errands becoming more and more cumbersome for them as the years go by. Making the decision to get a loved one in-home care is a big one for many reasons.
Today, we’re going to discuss the signs that let you know when it’s finally time to hire in-home nursing services. No one wants to lose that active part of their life, but at a certain point, it’s safer and easier for everyone involved to hire some help.
Read on and let us help you determine if your loved one is in need of extra care.
How Do You Know When In-Home Nursing Services Are Needed?
Finding signs that your elderly loved one might need some help around the house or outside of it can be quite difficult. You might even feel like you’re intruding a little bit, but it’s important to get to the bottom of it when the aging process starts to take over.
Hygiene
One of the most obvious signs that your elderly loved one is having difficulty taking care of themselves is a noticeable drop-off in personal hygiene. It might be body odor, bad breath, or something more visible, but as soon as you notice this consistently happening, you can be sure that it’s not just because they don’t want to clean themselves.
The reason for a lack of hygiene could be anything from fear of falling to physical pain when getting in and out of the bath or shower. To ensure their safety, hire an in-home nurse.
Food Spoiling
Next time you’re at your loved ones’ home, take a look in the fridge and examine their perishable foods. If there are a lot of items that have been expired for some time, it’s likely a sign that they’re reluctant to leave the house.
This one is especially problematic because they could get sick if they’re eating expired foods or not eating at all.
Finding An In-Home Caregiver
An in-home nurse will come and check on your loved ones on a regular basis (daily/weekly, as needed) so that you don’t have to worry about them. They’ll ensure that all of the proper medications are being taken, keep them clean, and help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Finding someone with the right caregiver qualifications does take some research, however. You’ll want to find someone that’s got some nursing credentials and do a thorough background check because you’re trusting them with helping a loved one in need.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of caregivers out there, so you’ll be able to talk to a few of them before you make a decision. How much you want to spend and how frequent you need the visits to be will be the main factors that you need to consider.
Get Them the Help They Need
You should never leave your loved ones to fend for themselves when they’re clearly having issues doing so. Using in-home nursing services is the best option for those that need some form of care but don’t want to go to a nursing home.
Start searching for your in-home caregiver today and find someone that will treat your loved one with the care and respect that they deserve.
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