Is it Possible Seniors Need More Help with Self-Care?

When it becomes more difficult for seniors to handle self-care tasks on their own, family caregivers may need to consider solutions like home care assistance to help fill in the gaps. That help can allow seniors to age in place and meet other goals they’ve set for themselves, including enjoying the highest possible quality of life.

Personal Hygiene Has Changed

If seniors look or smell different than usual, especially if those changes include more body odor, seniors may be having a tough time with personal hygiene tasks. Elder care providers can assist them with bathing, grooming, changing clothes, and other related tasks, like cleaning their clothing regularly. These tasks may be difficult because of mobility changes, cognitive illnesses, or simply because they require too much energy.

Their Home is Dirty or More Cluttered

Another big indication is when seniors no longer have a clean, tidy living space. If they’re finding it difficult to keep up with routine household chores, they may not be as safe at home as they used to be. Home care assistance can help aging adults avoid tripping hazards, unhygienic living conditions, and other safety issues that can create big health problems.

They’re Not Cooking

Seniors need to eat healthy meals every day so that they maintain muscle mass and keep their bodies healthy in other ways. Often what happens is that cooking becomes a bigger task than they can keep up with, and they might rely on less healthy food options. Sometimes seniors just stop eating much at all, which can lead to much bigger health issues. Home care assistance helps seniors to have healthy and balanced meals and snacks without having to wear themselves out in the process.

They’re Missing Doctor’s Appointments

There are a few reasons seniors might start missing doctor’s appointments. First, they could be forgetting them, which could be a sign of bigger memory problems. They could also have more trouble driving themselves places. Being unable to drive often causes seniors to become isolated. Another reason seniors might avoid doctor’s appointments is because they don’t want to hear bad news about their health. Each of these concerns can be resolved with a little bit of help from home care providers.

Hoarding is More Obvious

Many seniors find that as they grow older, it becomes more difficult to let go of some of the things they’ve collected over the years. As these things build up, they become more of a hindrance at home and can even cause seniors to lose their homes if the hoard becomes way too big to manage alone. If seniors are starting to hold onto things more stubbornly, it can help to talk to them about why and see if they’re open to solutions that deal with the underlying issues. Very often people suffering from hoarding disorders need professional assistance from therapists and medical providers to recover.

Growing older brings with it a lot of different challenges that can be tough to face alone. Home care assistance can be there for family caregivers and aging adults, ensuring that seniors have the support they need with self-care tasks.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance in Belgrade, MN, please contact the caring staff at Alternative Senior Care today. 

Providing Home Care in Central Minnesota and Surrounding Communities. Call us today at (320) 352-3350