Senior Care: Making the decision to stay in your home

There are many memories in a home.

We all like our privacy, I think it has something to do with being American, it’s part of who we are. There are times in our lives when privacy must take a back seat to other concerns.

Getting older can be one a time when we need to give up a little of our privacy in order to remain in our home. It can become difficult to live in a house alone or even with the help of a spouse.

Here are some of the signs you should look for that will help you know when it’s time for you or your a loved one to have a caregiver helping them around the house.

Medical Needs are Requiring More AttentionLet’s face it, our bodies age and at some point we begin to develop more physical problems than we did when we were younger. This can lead to us becoming less capable of caring for ourselves. Sometimes a spouse can help but this can become exhausting for the spouse and lead to a lot of tension in the home. Dementia is a diagnosis that will generally mean significant care that is beyond what a spouse can provide.

Activities of Daily Living are DifficultThe medical community has recognized that there are basic activities that we all need to be able to perform in order to live independently. These activities are called “activities of daily living” and include:• Bathing and showering (washing the body)• Dressing• Eating/feeding (including chewing and swallowing)• Functional mobility (moving from one place to another while performing activities)• Personal hygiene and grooming (including brushing/combing/styling hair)• Toilet hygiene (completing the act of urinating/defecating)

Activities of Daily Living are DifficultWhen these activities become too difficult for us to perform on our own it is time to consider getting some help. BrightStar Certified Nurse Aides are trained to assist with these.

The Family’s Ability to Help is LimitedTimes were different when we were growing up. I remember my great grandparents moving in to live with my grandparents because they needed help and could no longer live alone. This was common in earlier generations but, times have changed. We are living longer, both partners work, we are waiting longer to have kids and families are often living thousands of miles apart.

The Family’s Ability to Help is LimitedEven when kids want to help it is often not possible for them to give the time that caregiving takes. Arranging for someone to check up on Mom, Dad, or both, help with the meals, shopping and laundry, ensuring their safety and helping with activities of daily living can be a wonderful gift.

The Family Home Becomes Harder to CleanCleaning a house can actually take a lot of energy and sometimes it can become too much. Items begin to pile up instead of being put away and things become untidy.

The Family Home Becomes Harder to CleanOver time this can actually become a safety issue. Falls and the prevention of them are a big reason to have a caregiver in the house.

BrightStar in-home care is the premier in-home care solution that helps seniors satisfy their preference to stay in their home. Our in-home caregivers provide a range of care services and assistance from companion care to skilled nursing care to allow seniors and other adults to remain in their own homes.

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