Whether your loved one is elderly or disabled, it can be hard to know when to ask for help. In society, we are taught that asking for help is a sign of weakness that results in embarrassment. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. If one of your loved ones is facing difficulty due to age or disability, certain telltale signs could help indicate the right time to hire in-home help.
General Signs That It Is Time to Ask for Help
When your elderly loved one needs help, the signs might manifest in a variety of ways. Some signs are clearly big picture issues that are obvious to friends and family, regardless of the distance or relationship. Keep an eye out for the following signs:
Close Calls or New Hardships
If your elderly or disabled loved one has been living on his or her own, it is likely that they have been relatively self-sufficient for some time. But if your loved one has recently been experiencing new difficulties or suffering from close calls, such as medical scares, falls or even car accidents, it is most likely time to ask for help.
When an elderly or disabled person lives on their own, these close calls are more likely to occur frequently. When these close calls occur, it is wise to employ a trusted home care service in order to ensure that somebody is there to respond to falls or other accidents.
Worsening Health or Chronic Health Conditions
Progressive issues such as congestive heart failure, dementia and COPD could result in rapid decline of a loved one. Usually, the presence of these issues means that it is time to ask for help from a qualified home care service or caregiver.
Difficulty Recovering
In the disabled or elderly, common illnesses like the common cold or the flu could produce serious health issues. If an elderly or disabled loved one has recently suffered from a common illness but is having a hard time recovering, you should consider asking for help. This is especially true if your loved one is not able or unwilling to get the help he or she needs during the time of the illness. This will result in the illness becoming much more serious.
Difficulty With Daily Living Activities
The instrumental activities and activities of daily living are the skills an adult needs to live independently. This means without the care of a caregiver or relative. These skills include taking medications, cooking, shopping, bathing, dressing oneself, driving, using the bathroom, doing laundry and cleaning.
But age or disability often rob people of these abilities and make it increasingly hard for them to live alone. If a loved one is having difficulty with instrumental activities and activities of daily living, bringing in-home help into the equation could often restore some independence and help the person live a better life.
Social Signs That It Is Time to Ask for Help
Oftentimes, when an elderly or disabled person is starting to decline, it will become obvious through their social interactions or lack thereof. In order to determine if your friend or loved one needs assistance, you should keep an eye out for these important social waning signs:
Lack of Motivation in Maintaining Friendships
Age and disability make it easy to become reclusive and a person who no longer keeps close friends or pursues new friendships. Usually, a lack of active friendships is a sign of depressive symptoms, which may indicate that it is time to secure in-home help or a change of scenery for your friend or loved one.
Refusal to Leave the House
If your loved one is afraid to drive and unwilling to take public transportation alone, they often start to go days on end without leaving their house. Oftentimes, these individuals benefit from hiring in-home help. This might help them regain their mobility and resume regular outings.
No Weekly Activities or Interests
If your loved one has abandoned weekly activities and interests, it’s time to call for help. Isolation is usually related to depressive symptoms and acting quickly is the best way to help avoid your loved one from becoming further depressed and isolated.
Does your loved one need in-home care? Click here to contact Colonial Home Care Services today!
