Have you started to notice that as we age, certain tasks are more difficult to accomplish than they were when we were younger? Chores we used to do without a giving them a second thought seem to take our toll on us, but we’re still young, so we persevere on and tackle the job. BrightStar Care wants you to tune into your elderly loved one and watch for signs that they may need assistance in managing the home and take care of themselves. Seeking assistance for
home care in Orlando is a click away with BrightStar Care. There are some telltale signs that usually point toward an elderly loved one beginning to struggle with managing daily activities. Here’s a quick list:
- Unexpected weight loss. If your loved one is losing weight, it’s important to explore the reason why. There may be an underlying medical issue you are unaware of or, perhaps, a new medication has been introduced into his or her regimen. If the pantry is not stocked the way it used to be or if there is no desire to cook anymore, you should be exploring the cause.
- Mail and bills are being left to pile up. It’s entirely possible that mail is building up as a result of apathy. If living alone, your loved one may just not care whether the bills are paid or correspondence is up-to-date anymore. Financial stress may be a factor as he or she may be afraid that they can’t afford to pay them. Medical bills can be confusing and overwhelming to anyone at any age, but they can be catastrophic to consider for the elderly. This is a clear indication that your assistance is needed to manage the finances and work together to develop a plan.
- The house used to be clean and well maintained, but isn’t anymore. If you are noticing that the house doesn’t appear to be as clean and tidy as it used to be, the daily chores may be too demanding for your aging loved one to keep up with. It could also be that he or she has decided it’s not important to be as fastidious as they used to be. It’s important for you to tune into changes and figure out what you can do to help.
- He or she no longer cares about their appearance. Daily bathing and grooming routines may become difficult as we age. It may be an embarrassing subject to discuss with your loved one, but if you can help them put their pride aside, it might be as simple a fix like helping them to wash their hair. Perhaps laundry has become too difficult to tackle.
- Appointments are being forgotten or canceled. Has your loved one started to miss scheduled appointments? Does he or she make appointments and then cancel them? Forgetfulness is a warning sign that something is amiss. Don’t ignore it. Maybe they no longer feel comfortable driving but are afraid to mention it to you. Losing the freedom to be independent and mobile takes quite a toll on most people. Try to get to the bottom of the problem and get the assistance needed to help your loved one maintain as much independence as possible.
- He or she no longer wants to participate in family gatherings or be with friends. Isolation is one of the major factors to consider when evaluating the health and well-being of an elderly loved one. If your aging loved one used to be the life of the party and had a great support system of friends and no longer wishes to interact with anyone, it’s time to find out what’s going on. Withdrawal from socialization can be indicative of depression and other medical issues.
BrightStar Care is here to help. We will provide you with a complimentary in-home assessment to help you evaluate your loved one’s situation and are available to provide
home care in Orlando as needed. From personal care to companion care to skilled nursing, BrightStar Care will put your mind at ease and provide the highest quality service for your aging loved one. Call us today at 407-877-0720.
Have you started to notice that as we age, certain tasks are more difficult to accomplish than they were when we were younger? Chores we used to do without a giving them a second thought seem to take our toll on us, but we’re still young, so we persevere on and tackle the job. BrightStar Care wants you to tune into your elderly loved one and watch for signs that they may need assistance in managing the home and take care of themselves. Seeking assistance for home care in Orlando is a click away with BrightStar Care. There are some telltale signs that usually point toward an elderly loved one beginning to struggle with managing daily activities. Here’s a quick list: