How Do You Know When More Help is Needed?
Most of us want to stay in our homes and live independently for as long as possible. With advancing age or disability, it may be necessary to live in a more supportive environment where there are services and personal care options. Usually there are combinations of risks, needs and wants that create a tipping point for considering a move to a senior residence, a move to live with family or having more care in the home. The most important considerations usually revolve around concerns related to health, safety and emotional well-being. Below are some factors to consider when thinking about these issues for yourself or a family member.
Emotional and mental health. Riddled with anxieties, increasingly lonely, isolated, fearful or paranoid. Depressed? Agitated?
Frequent accidents or close calls, like falls or medical scares.
A slow recovery from a recent illness. Did it develop into something serious? Was medical help sought when needed?
Inability to take medications as prescribed because of memory impairments or behavioral issues.
Worsening of a chronic health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia or congestive heart failure.
Greater difficulty in managing activities of daily living, like dressing, bathing and transferring, eating, tolieting and hygiene.
Bodily changes, like obvious weight loss or gain, increased frailty or unpleasant body odor.
Safety is threatened with an inability to respond appropriately in an emergency or diminished because there is no one near to check on a regular and frequent basis.
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Cognitive difficulties suggested by mail in a chaotic state, scattered about and unopened, unpaid bills, opening the door to strangers, uncontrolled spending or evidence of being an easy target for scams.
Increased risks related to driving such as frequent accidents, failure to fasten the seat belt or heed dashboard warning lights; signs of tension, preoccupation or distraction while driving; damage to the vehicle.
In the kitchen, signs of excess or forgetfulness, like perishables well past their expiration dates.
Signs of fires such a charred stove knobs or pot bottoms, potholders with burned edges, a discharged fire extinguisher. Do smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have live batteries?
A once-neat home now cluttered, spills that were not cleaned up, grime coating bathroom and kitchen appliances or an overflowing laundry basket.
Neglected plants or pets.
Signs of neglect outside the home, like broken windows, debris-filled gutters and drains, uncollected rubbish and an overstuffed mailbox.
Need help? Call the Housing Bureau for Seniors at 734-998-9346 or Turner Senior Resource Center at 734-998-9353.
Adapted from Paula Spencer Scott, senior editor at Caring.com