How do you know when it’s time for your dad to have home care services? Your dad wants to remain in his home, but you worry about him being alone daily. These are the seven signs to look for.
He Can’t Cook
If your dad has never been able to cook a meal, he needs in-home care. Hire caregivers to help him plan a menu, shop for ingredients, and prepare daily meals and snacks. This is especially important if he’s supposed to follow a special diet.
Poor Self-Care
Your dad has chronic health issues, but he’s not following his doctor’s recommendations. He forgets or fails to take his prescription medications on time. He doesn’t follow the suggested diet. This is an excellent time to discuss having a caregiver available for meal preparation.
He’s Lonely
Does anyone stop to see your dad each week? If he calls you at work and asks if you’re coming by, he’s likely lonely and needs companion care.
Frequent Falls
Your dad has fallen more than once. Whether it’s side effects of the medications he takes or worsening muscle strength and balance, he should have someone around to help him avoid falling. For example, he fell while getting out of the shower, so have a caregiver there to help support him after his shower.
Messy Home
Another sign that home care services are essential is a messy home. You visit him and find his dishes dirty and sitting on the counter. His carpets are covered in crumbs and pet hair. His counters are stained with food and beverage spills. If he’s not cleaning his home alone, he needs someone to do it for him.
Unkempt Appearance
Your dad’s appearance has gotten pretty unkempt this year. He doesn’t trim his nails. The clothing he wears is the same day after day for weeks. His hair hasn’t been brushed or combed in ages. Those are all signs that there’s a problem when it comes to personal care.
He may need help with the laundry to ensure he has clean clothing. It’s also time to talk about having caregivers available to help him with grooming and hygiene.
Overly Cluttered Rooms
You stop by to visit your dad; many of his rooms are very cluttered. For instance, he has newspapers in stacks, and if you try to recycle them, he has an excuse for why he needs them. Hoarding behaviors are common in older adults, and you’ll have to be patient with him.
Often, hoarding occurs when he feels a loss. So, he replaces people with items. Overall, more frequent visits may help. Slowly start to weed out the items he doesn’t need and help him keep his home clean and organized by hiring caregivers for weekly housekeeping services.
When you know your dad would benefit from having a caregiver available daily or week, arrange in-home care services. Schedule the services he needs the most and learn more about prices and schedules by talking to an expert in in-home care.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-Home Care in Phoenix, AZ, or anywhere in the East Valley, please contact the caring staff at Legacy Home Care.
Call (480) 777-0070
Legacy Home Care has been serving the valley since 2007. We are family owned and operated with over 75 caregivers. We offer a customized care plan that includes services such as: Hourly Senior Home Care, 24-Hour Home Care, Dementia Care, Personal Care and Companion Care. Also ask us about our Veterans' Home Care program.
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