As we age, we may notice that tasks that were formerly routine are now more difficult.If your loved one is struggling with household chores, memory issues, or mobility problems, it may be time to consider in-home personal care. But what level of care do you need? Since many seniors prefer to live in their homes as long as possible, it is important to discuss with them and personally observe the areas that are more difficult for them than they should be. Being proactive can keep your loved one safe, comfortable, and healthy.
At Serenity Home Care, we place the greatest value on comfort, enabling those we serve to experience a high quality of life while at home. We provide care services to residents in communities surrounding our office in Beaverton, OR, including Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties.
The most important things to consider are your loved one’s physical and mental health condition, their mobility level, and the amount of medical care that they require.
What to Look for When Choosing the Right Level of Personal Care
Serenity Home Care offers personal home care assistance in numerous areas to help your loved one remain in their home safely and comfortably. To decide what level of care your loved one needs, consider the following:
Mobility
Is the senior having a problem performing certain daily tasks because of mobility issues? Things like laundry, housekeeping, or taking care of pets may have become too difficult. One in four adults over 65 are victims of falls each year, making it the number one cause of injury and death from injury in the United States. Are they unsteady on their feet or do they lose their balance easily? Are walkways clear and if using mobility assistance devices, is there sufficient space to navigate safely? Can they safely go down steps or get in and out of the bathtub or shower?
Memory Issues
If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, is it difficult for them to take their prescribed medications at the correct time and dosage which could lead to dangerous results? This can be dangerous or at the very least unhealthy. A personal home health care assistant can monitor or administer medications. With memory issues, you may observe that your loved one’s hygiene has suffered, bills aren’t getting paid, or they are not eating properly. Be on the lookout for unexplained weight loss, impaired judgment, and lack of self-care.
Transportation
If your loved one is no longer able to drive or cannot effectively get to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, or other regular errands, it may be time to enlist the help of personal home care services. Serenity Home Care can help with transportation, shopping, and running standard errands to keep your loved one safe and worry-free.
General Daily Living
If you notice that your loved one is having difficulty performing basic activities of daily living such as self-care, proper nutrition, general housekeeping, and pet care, or seems to isolate themselves from friends or family, it may be time to investigate personal home-care assistance. Even if there are no memory issues, some tasks may have become too difficult to do, so your senior simply avoids doing them. This can include chores like laundry or dishes or even bathing and other personal care. Some tasks such as cooking may be unsafe, especially if there are memory issues. Seniors often suffer from depression or can withdraw from activities that they participated in before. In-home personal care assistance can help to keep their tasks on schedule, keeping your loved one safe and comfortable.
Safety
Look for areas that present trip hazards, such as electrical cords, loose flooring or rugs, or banisters that are not well secured. If your loved one requires mobility devices, check to ensure there is sufficient space for someone to use a walker or wheelchair to move around the house. Some modifications or assistance devices can prevent falls in the bathtub or shower. Sometimes meal preparation can be unsafe, particularly if there are memory issues. Trips and falls, unsafe meal preparation, and failure to take medications properly all lead to unsafe conditions. At-home personal care can help to keep your loved one safe.
Serenity Home Care Offers Services You Can Trust
if your loved one needs assistance to keep them safe and healthy while living in their own home, Serenity Home Care offers the personal home care assistance they need. We are a licensed comprehensive in-home care agency in Oregon that serves Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties. Our services include assisting with bathing, personal grooming, hygiene, nutrition, and feeding, providing assistance with medication administration, meal preparation, light housekeeping, shopping, transportation, and more. Contact us today to see how we can customize personal home care for you.
