Signs a Senior Needs Help at Home

It’s hard watching the ones you love most get older. It’s even harder for them to admit when they need assistance. Seniors want to remain independent and feel like they’re in control of their lives. It’s not uncommon for seniors to pretend everything is okay, hide the signs from their loved ones, or majorly downplay their daily struggles.

Don’t ignore the warning signs.

If you have a gut feeling that something is off or that they may need help at home, it’s time to address it. It’s your responsibility to keep an eye out for the warning signs and improve their quality of life.

However, before you catch them off guard or bombard them with questions about how they’re feeling, you’ll want to start monitoring their interaction and keep a closer eye on them. For some, it’s a sensitive topic, so you’ll need to tread lightly and be there for them as they go through these life changes.

Here are some of the warning signs you should look out for.

Struggling with day-to-day activities

Whether it’s something small like they ask for your help to move a table, or it’s taking longer than usual for them to take a bath or shower: These are some of the first signs to keep an eye out for. This shows they don’t have the same energy levels or strength to complete day-to-day activities alone.

Other things to look out for are if they have difficulty grooming, dressing, or going to the bathroom alone. These are core activities that every individual needs to be able to do for their overall health. If they’re showing signs of struggling with daily living, it may be time to speak up or look for help.

Changes in appearance

Changes in appearance happen over time. They stop wearing that shade of lipstick they love or brushing their hair every day. Maybe, they’ve been wearing the same outfit every time you see them, or they have a strong body odor because they aren’t taking showers as frequently.

Don’t let these signs go unaddressed.

Keep an eye out for bruises, wounds, burns, or other physical warning signs that show a change in mobility and habits. If they’re struggling with making dinner, they may burn themselves or have cuts on their arm. If they can’t complete basic daily activities, they may have visible wounds.

Behavior, mood, and changes in judgment

Getting old isn’t easy. There’s emotional turmoil that comes with these small lifestyle changes that your loved one is dealing with on their own. If they lack motivation, are irritable, or have lost interest in their favorite hobbies, it’s time to speak up.

Even if they won’t tell you themselves, they may be emotional consequences of aging and don’t know how to address them with you. Keep an eye out for:

Mood swings or irritability
Losing track of time
Not answering their phone calls or showing up to family events
Physical or verbal abuse
Forgetting where they put things or showing signs of confusion
Sleeping in or not sleeping enough
Can’t remember names or places they’ve been

Neglecting responsibilities around the house

Their home is a reflection of how they feel. If things aren’t in the same places, or if their kitchen isn’t as clean as it usually is, that may be a sign they’re struggling with tackling their chores and tasks around their home.

Pay attention to the living room, their garden, or the kitchen. Does something feel off? Or are the mundane tasks not getting done? They may need some extra help around the home.

You can count on SeniorCare Companions for help

The older you get, the easier it gets to lose track of your responsibilities. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the warning signs. If you don’t address the problems, they could hurt themselves, or it can complicate things even more.

As their friend or family member, it’s your responsibility to speak up and find a trusted caregiver to help them with their day-to-day life.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to tackle these tough conversations alone, we’re here to help.

At SeniorCare Companions, we want to help alleviate some of the stress that comes with getting older for you and your loved one. Our team of professionals is here to help your loved ones adjust to the changes in life they are facing and help improve their quality of life.

Seniors need attention and love during the holidays, just like everyone else. Unfortunately, some people forget to visit their loved ones during the busiest times of the year.

Finding ways to take care of seniors during the holidays is extremely important. Doing so involves helping them with their physical, mental, and emotional needs. Let’s look into the ways you can take care of seniors during the holiday season.

Hire a Service

Some seniors might not be able to help themselves with different tasks such as:

Mobility to go places
Remembering important details and schedules
Assistance with motor skills

Whatever you may need, we here at Senior Care Companions can help. We offer various services to help seniors each day. You can find assistants to help them 24/7, or just a few hours of the day.

While you should help seniors when you can, you may need professional help. After all, you can’t be at their sides 24/7, so see if you can find a reliable service to look after them.

Plan Fun Activities

Seniors can face boredom during the holidays, especially if they don’t have people to spend time with them. Coming up with fun activities you can do with one another is important to their mental and emotional wellbeing. Potential activities include:

Sit down and play board games together
Enjoy holiday activities like eating or watching movies
Go for a walk through the park

Focus your attention on letting them have fun. Doing so can help you take care of them emotionally and mentally. For example, they could feel happy after the activities or thankful you thought of them.

Seniors can potentially become lonely and depressed during the holidays, so take the time to plan fun activities for them. Doing so can help them overcome the mundane and boring moments in their lives.

Prepare Them Ahead of Time

Some seniors may like to stick with their schedules. If you know seniors like this, you should prepare them before any activities. Some seniors may have health problems, so make sure you accommodate them.

You can do this in multiple ways such as:

Ensure they have a way to safely reach the areas if they have to use wheelchairs
Give them specific food if they have dietary restrictions
Show them pictures of who they’ll see at the event if they suffer from memory loss

You don’t want to worry them, so make sure you take some time to talk and prepare. This can help them understand the plan and feel comfortable during the activity.

Visit Them Regularly

Often people forget to help seniors with their mental and emotional health during the holidays. If you want to help them during the holidays, just visiting them is an easy way to make their day.

Visiting seniors can help them out in many ways:

Allows them to talk with someone
Shows them others care about their well-being
Help them with tasks or anything else they need

When you visit a senior, you can help them feel happy. You can also help them avoid feelings of loneliness or boredom if they have to live away from home. Even if you have seniors in your life who live on their own, you should visit them during the holidays.

Seniors recognize the time you take to visit them, so they’ll appreciate your efforts.

Ask Them What They Want

Sometimes, people try to make decisions for seniors, so you should communicate when possible. If you communicate with them, you can avoid some problems.

Ensure they do something they like and avoid boredom
Meet their personal needs and keep them safe
Learn more about them and their interests

These points can help you find an activity that will make the seniors happy. You don’t want to drag them to an activity they don’t like, so you need to communicate with them. That way, you can find something you’ll both enjoy.

Some people forget to remember each senior as a person. Make sure you show these seniors you care by asking them what they want. As you do so, you can form stronger relationships with them.

Final Comments

The holidays give you a great opportunity to show your love to the seniors in your life. Whether you want to help relatives in your family or the local seniors, you can make the holidays better for them.

If you want to help these seniors out, try out the ideas above. If you need assistance in taking care of the seniors in your life, reach out to Senior Care Companions.

Have any Questions? Just give us a call, we would love to help in any way.

“Quality Care You Can Trust – Since 2004”