It’s natural to think of our parents as being inherently capable of managing the responsibilities and tasks that go along with daily living. Realistically, however, it’s not unusual for an aging parent to reach a point where 24-hour care is needed. If this is a situation that applies to your aging mom or dad, here are some steps you can take to provide the level of care now required.
Assess Your Parent’s Current Care Needs
Start by determining the care-related needs your parent currently has that make 24-hour care necessary. For example, if your parent is in the middle or later stages of dementia, there may be a need for around-the-clock supervision for safety and general assistance with daily routines. Care provided 24/7 may also involve needs related to:
• Mobility issues
• Personal hygiene
• Transportation
• Meal preparation
• Cleaning and home upkeep
• Companionship
One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide senior home care. Florence families can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties.
Determine What Kind of Help You Need
It’s not good for you physically or mentally to stretch yourself too thin, so consider your own needs as well. That said, you can still spend time with your parent while finding a healthy balance with your own needs. This is where providing care in your parent’s own home fits into the picture. Around-the-clock care may be provided in a way that works well for both you and your parent. Some other possible ways to get help with 24/7 care include:
• Reaching out to other family members
• Taking advantage of local transportation and food delivery services for your parent
• Seeing if remote monitoring tools or services may help
Home care service providers might benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Let Your Parent Be Part of the Process
Realize your parent will likely have just as many questions and concerns as you do, some of which are unique to older adults. For instance, a top concern for many seniors is losing independence, which may be amplified once 24/7 care becomes a topic that needs to be discussed. Make the transition to 24-hour care less stressful for your parent by including him or her in the process as much as possible. You’re likely to get more cooperation and less pushback if decisions are made together.
Ease into the Change (if Possible)
As long as there aren’t serious or pressing physical or cognitive health concerns, gradually shift to a 24-hour care situation. For instance, you might start with providing extra care during the day when it’s needed before adding evening and overnight care.
Make Appropriate Home Adjustments
Once 24-hour care decisions have been made and everyone is in agreement, take some time to make your parent’s home safer and more manageable. This is something you might do with:
• Grip bars, rails, chair lifts, ramps, and any other beneficial home adjustments
• Furniture rearrangement to minimize obstacles
• Lighting updates, especially in hallways, around stairs, and in bathrooms
• Frequently used items placed within easy reach
Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs 24-hour home care, Florence, KY, Assisting Hands Home Care is available to meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home. Reach out to us at Assisting Hands Home Care if you need compassionate professional care for your loved one. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (859) 444-5699 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
