Therefore, it’s important to assess the facts surrounding your loved one’s medical condition in addition to his or her wish for care at home. Ultimately, the time for critical decisions about home care cannot be delayed and being prepared with reliable information is vital. Your loved one relies on you to make difficult decisions and to ensure that they receive the best possible quality of care at home.

Below, we provide some things to consider to help make your decision easier.

Common Signs That Home Care Is Needed

Whether it is due to age or medical conditions, there are common signs that your loved one may need home care assistance. For example, if a senior is typically very independent but has gone through a period of living alone and not performing day-to-day tasks, such as driving, cooking, or cleaning due to illness or injury, home care may be needed. Some other common signs that it’s time for home care include:

  • Depression, anxiety or other mental health decline;
  • Confusion and forgetfulness;
  • Frequent falls and injuries;
  • Weight loss (forgetting to eat, or not eating nutritious foods);
  • Difficulty with household chores and errands;
  • Trouble with hygiene, bathing and dressing.

As you or an aging loved one becomes less able to care for themselves, it is often hard to know what the next step should be. Home care can include a range of services, such as assistance with bathing and grooming, help with medication or meals, respite care, transportation and more.

How Do You Know If You Have Caregiver Burnout?

Caregiver burnout is one of the most common signs that home care is needed. Caregivers are people who provide care for a loved one, such as a parent or spouse, who cannot take care of themselves. Caregiver burnout occurs when a caregiver becomes overwhelmed with the responsibility of his or her job and unable to cope with stressors such as lack of time for self-care, increased responsibilities and more.

The stressors that caregivers face can be overwhelming, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. This can lead them to develop resentment towards their loved ones which can lead to feelings of guilt and perpetuates a vicious cycle. If you think you’re suffering from caregiver burnout, it may be time to contact a home care agency to see what the options for you and your loved ones are.

What Do Seniors Need The Most?

While everyone’s list of needs is different, there are some universal needs that all seniors share. All seniors want to be physically, emotionally and financially secure. When these needs are not fulfilled, it’s time to start thinking about in-home care for your aging loved one. 

Home care aides can provide a variety of services to seniors, including assistance with day-to-day activities and tasks, such as meal preparation, laundry, medication reminders, transportation and housework. They can also offer companionship and help to those who are grieving. Some experts say that home health aides can improve the quality of life for seniors by helping them live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

Provide Your Loved One With The Care They Need

Home care is one of the best ways to provide for a loved one who may need additional help with their day-to-day tasks. It can be an excellent compromise between aging in place, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. Overall, our goal is to give you back some of the time that you can use however you see fit. 

Saige Homecare has the knowledge, experience and resources to help you or your loved ones remain safe and healthy at home. We understand that it can be overwhelming to find the right care for a loved one; finding the right caregiver is even more difficult. We provide qualified caregivers who will provide in-home assistance as needed. Our goal is to make sure your parents or spouse remain as happy, healthy and comfortable as possible in their own home. Contact us today to find out more about our services.