Deciding whether your loved one would benefit from companion care can be a difficult decision. If your parent is struggling to live independently, an elder care service provides a way for them to safely and comfortably remain at home. But is it the right time to hire one? We’ll explore what a caregiver does, and how to determine if your parent needs one.
Tasks a Home Care Companion Handles
As people age, they often need help with activities of daily living (ADLs). These include eating, bathing, dressing, and moving around safely. A home care companion can assist your parent in these areas. For example, they can make sure your loved one is eating properly and bathing regularly.
Aside from ADLs, aging loved ones may also need support with instrumental activities of daily living, or IADLs. These include activities like cooking, housekeeping, and transportation. Caregivers can transport loved ones to doctors’ appointments and take them on excursions like walks, for instance. A caregiver also provides mental stimulation and emotional comfort by talking with your parent and spending time with them.
Evaluating Your Parent’s Needs
If you suspect that your parent needs more care, consider these questions:
- Have they experienced weight loss or health changes?
- Are they eating less-healthy foods rather than balanced meals?
- Are they frequently forgetting medications or appointments?
- Do they seldom leave the house or interact with others? Have they become unable to drive or get around independently?
- Are they prone to falls or less mobile than they once were? Can they safely move from sitting to standing and navigate the house?
- Is the house becoming dirty or cluttered (e.g., dishes or laundry piling up)? Is the food in the fridge old or expired?
- Is their personal appearance suffering (e.g., unkempt hair, poor hygiene)?
- Are they at risk of wandering, due to dementia?
An in-home caregiver can prepare meals, handle basic housekeeping tasks like dishes and vacuuming, and assist with ADLs like bathing and dressing. If needed, the caregiver can help with incontinence care and provide medication reminders. The caregiver can also run errands or drive your parent to the grocery store, to appointments, or to social outings.
The amount of time a caregiver spends with your parent depends on your loved one’s needs. For some, a few hours several days a week will suffice. Others need more extensive daily or overnight care.
Keeping a Record of ADL Support Needed
Being completely objective about your loved one’s needs and limitations can be hard. If you’re already assisting your parent with ADLs, keep a log of daily activities that you help with over a typical week. Jot down tasks performed under each day of the week. Then review your notes, placing tasks under specific categories like hygiene, housekeeping, and meal prep.
This careful note-taking will help you assess the need for in-home care. Additionally, it will help you communicate your loved one’s needs to a caregiver, should you choose to hire one.
While making this decision can feel daunting, a caregiver can bring much peace of mind for you and your loved one. Your parent’s quality of life can improve with regular visits from a home companion. And elder care can allow you to return recharged and ready to enjoy your time with your parent. Schedule a free nurse consultation call to discuss your parent’s needs in detail.
