If you have a loved one who is getting older or dealing with a health condition that limits their capacity for self-care, it’s normal to be concerned. After all, you love this person and you want to make sure they’re safe and secure. If you’re thinking about seeking care options for this person, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at some things to consider.
Does Your Loved One Need Extra Care?
We all need a little help getting things done from time to time, but how do we determine whether someone we love needs an occasional favor or more dedicated care? It can be difficult to be certain at a glance, so the best thing to do if you’re curious is to ask. Talk with your loved one about their needs, and ask open-ended questions so that they’ll be less likely to dismiss your concerns.
If that doesn’t work, try to spend a bit more time with your loved one. During your time together, try to observe this person in their day-to-day life to see if you notice any new struggles they’re having.
Common Care Options
Fortunately, to meet the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities, there is an array of care options available. If your loved one is still doing quite well on their own and just needs a helping hand around their home, a home health aide might be worth looking into. You might also consider moving your loved one into your home if space allows it.
Other times, individuals with a more robust set of needs might do well with assisted living, or simply moving into a retirement community where they’ll have help available if they should need it.
Individuals with significant healthcare needs and limitations might try a full-service community where medical personnel and care assistants are always available. For added coverage of medical needs, a skilled nursing facility might be appropriate.
How to Make the Right Choice
Choosing the right environment for someone you care about can be a difficult task. To make sure you’re pursuing the right option, it’s good to reach out for help. Talk with other family members, the loved one in question, or representatives at various care communities. These liaisons are typically very approachable, knowledgeable, and thorough when it comes to providing concerned family members with advice.
Being involved in deciding where your loved one is going to live can be burdensome. You don’t want to choose the wrong place, and you don’t want to wait around making no decision at all.
We understand. At Heritage Assisted Living, our team commonly collaborates with a potential resident’s family to help advise them on their next steps. You’re welcome to give us a call any time if you’d like to learn more about assisted living and how it stands to benefit your loved one.