Four Signs It's Time to Switch From a Part-Time Caregiver to a Live-In Caretaker
Aging can take a toll on your loved one. As your parent or grandparent gets older, doing simple, everyday activities becomes a challenge. Hiring a part-time caregiver is a sure-fire way to support them while respecting their need for independence at the same time.
However, as time progresses, it might become even more difficult to do other simple tasks that they would have managed once the caregiver left. For instance, cooking meals might turn into a struggle. While this might not seem like too much of a struggle at first, such minor issues can easily snowball into even large problems like injuries. The faster you can hire a live-in caregiver, the easier it will be to prevent such scenarios.
Here how to know that you need to hire a live-in caregiver:
It Is Becoming Tough To Walk Around the House
Muscle pain and weak bones can make it hard for your loved one to move around the house by themselves. Even worse, it can become easy to fall while trying to get from one point to another. Sadly, such falls can easily result in injuries.
Sure, it is always wise to remove any slipping hazards within the house. Giving them a cane or walker might also help, but this doesn't completely guarantee safety while walking around. By having a caregiver around every time, it will be easy to guard against such small accidents.
They Aren't Taking Their Medication as Required
Taking medication is a vital part of staying healthy. As long as they stick to the recommended dosage, sick seniors can get cured of the diseases that are affecting them as well as get back their strength. Sadly for seniors who tend to forget easily, it can be pretty easy to miss a few doses from time to time.
With a live-in caregiver at home, you can eliminate the risk that your loved one will miss some doses. This can be especially helpful if some of the medication needs to be taken in the middle of the night. The caregiver can also play the role of monitoring the progress of your loved one, and suggesting a change of medication in case the need arises.
It Is Becoming Difficult To Keep the Home Clean
While your loved one might have held cleanliness in high regard, their age might make committing to cleaning tasks difficult. Lifting the vacuum cleaner might become daunting. Standing upright to clean the utensils might also be too tough a task for them.
In some cases, it might become tough for their eyes to notice the dust particles that were previously easy to notice. Sadly, living in a dirty home can be a threat to their health, which is why you should consider hiring a live-in caregiver. They can help do the small chores required in the home while keeping an eye on your loved one at the same time.
You Notice Changes in Personality
You might notice that your loved one no longer does the fun activities that they were used to doing. For instance, your mom might miss meeting with her friends for book club sessions. This might be a sign of depression from aging, or the lack of independence.
You can easily keep your loved one happy by ensuring that they always have a companion over. They can both engage in some leisure activities. The caregiver can also take your loved one to the local senior center, where they can interact with peers. Such simple things can make life more interesting for your loved one.
In some cases, hiring a part-time caregiver might not be enough. Since the goal is to ensure your loved one remains healthy, happy, and energetic, be sure to hire a live-in caregiver if the need arises. Watch out for the clues above to uphold the wellbeing of your loved one.
