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Broward: 800-580-9098 Palm Beach:
561-266-9200 |
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| When is home care
needed? |
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It is often very difficult to know when a parent
or loved one – or even when you yourself – may need home
care.
It’s even more difficult when the only source
of communication is the telephone. Some things to
consider when making the decision to opt for in-home
care are:
1. When talking on the phone,
does the person,
a. Ask the same question
multiple times.
b. Tell you the same story
multiple times.
c. Have difficulty keeping a
train of thought.
d. Forget birthdays and
anniversaries.
2. If they are not
maintaining their usual level of personal hygiene.
3. Rather than washing clothes, do they
“air them out” around the house.
4. If
they have become more “secretive” even to the point of
displaying a small degree of paranoia
5.
If you notice personality changes – crying or
getting angry very easily.
6. If their
driving is much more erratic and unsafe.
7.
When they need to be reminded to take their
medications.
8. Bills left unpaid.
9.
Getting lost.
10. Forgetting to take
medications.
Note: these warning signs are
intended as guidelines only. The decision to choose home
care, like all heath care decisions, should involve your
physician.
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(Continued)
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A Difficult Decision
Choosing home care is
frequently seen as the beginning of the end, the first step on
the path to the loss of one’s independence. It is, first of
all, a recognition of the cared-for person’s diminishing .
ability to care for themself and it is likely to provoke a
range of emotions that are complex and disturbing. These may
include: |
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• Guilt feelings on the part
of the adult child because they can not personally provide the
care themself.
• Sadness/Depression
from confronting the reality of aging and its effects,
including ones own death and/or the death of a parent or loved
one.
• Confusion. Now the “child” has to make
decisions for a parent or loved one. They may be unsure how to
handle this new responsibility. There are no clear guidelines
of how far to go, or which areas of responsibility still
remain with the adult, when the adult/child roles are
reversed.
Many other powerful emotions can surface
at this difficult time, depending on the nature and background
of the people involved. At Victorian Home Sweet Home Care, we
believe that the key to dealing with these emotions is
understanding how they may affect us. We often urge our
clients and their families (as they are experiencing these
emotions) to keep in mind that opting for home care can vastly
improve the quality of life for an elderly or disabled person.
Even though it can be a difficult decision to make, ultimately
it is for the best – and that’s what really
counts.
“Care in the comfort of your own home” allows
the person to continue in familiar surroundings. It is a much,
much easier adjustment to make, compared to moving into a
nursing home or other facility.
In many cases, once
the initial adjustment is made, the cared-for person adapts
quickly and accepts the new arrangement of having a caregiver
assist them in their day-to-day routine.
If you are
facing this kind of difficult decision, or if you have
questions about how Victorian provides home care services,
please call us at
800-580-9098 | |
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