FIVE CRITICAL AREAS YOU NEED TO ASSESS IN YOUR ELDERLY LOVED ONE

In the previous blog , we shared some insights for those under the assumption that life in a nursing home or assisted living facility is an inevitable outcome as a person ages or becomes frail. Remaining safely and independently at home, however, can be an attainable goal in spite of increasing frailty or disability. Reviewing the level of functionality in the five areas below can be a first step in determining the level of care needed for you or your aging loved one:

1. Ability to use a telephone: This is an important function for seniors in the event of an emergency. If the senior can operate a phone, look up phone numbers, and dial a few well-known numbers, he or she may not need assistance in this area. However, if the senior can only answer the phone, but not dial, or cannot use a phone at all, this is an area where assistance is needed.

2. Shopping: Depending on mobility, some seniors may be able to shop for themselves, while others may need someone to accompany them to the store or to have their shopping done by a caregiver.

3. Food preparation: Proper nutrition is essential for aging seniors, and you may find that your loved one is not maintaining an adequate diet from the meals they prepare for themselves. When this is the case, they will need assistance with meal preparation in order to maintain functional levels of health.

4. Housekeeping: Daily household chores can be daunting, or even impossible, for some seniors. This is a very common area where many elderly individuals require at least some assistance with cleaning to maintain their homes.

5. Medication responsibilities: A certain amount of memory loss is common with aging, so many seniors feel the need to receive medication reminders. For seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, this assistance is particularly important in order to take their medications on time, or even take them at all.

Care needs can fluctuate over time. The RNs at AAging Better In-Home Care are experts in assessing the needs of elderly or frail individuals. We can provide a full range of in-home care services to meet each individual’s needs, and adjust that level of care as needs change – from as little as two hours per day, up to and including around-the-clock, 24-hour care. Services can range from providing assistance with meal preparation to bathing and dressing, transportation, hygiene, skilled nursing care, and much more.

Contact us for a free in-home assessment by one of our RNs to determine the level of care that’s best for your loved one. We can be reached by phone at 208-777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Hayden or Post Falls areas; 208-263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; and at 208-784-1505 in the Kellogg, Pinehurst or Wallace areas.