Do you have an elderly relative living with you and feel that you are solely responsible for looking after them? Is this taking a toll on your physical or mental well-being? Or maybe you feel overwhelmed by the constant adaptations that you may have to make to your home to make it accessible to them.
Of course, you want to help your elderly loved one retain their independence. However, for one reason or another, this may not always be possible, and you may need to start thinking about having them move into an assisted living facility.
So, with that in mind, what are some of the signs that your elderly loved one may need more help than you can provide?
Mobility
It is a fact of life that as people begin to age, they begin to slow down. This can be due to aches, pains, or degenerative issues such as arthritis.
If your loved one is already using a walking aid to move about and has grab rails in their bedroom, the bathroom, and on the stairs but is still struggling to get about, it may be time to consider assisted living. There are many assisted living complexes, like Brandywine that are safer for your elderly relative to live in and will have the staff on hand to help them to retain their independence.
Injuries
Following mobility issues come injuries. No one wants to come home to find that their elderly relative has been injured.
Injuries can indicate that your elderly relative is having issues with their mobility, is frequently falling, or, more concerningly, in the case of extensive bruising, can point to a health issue that needs closer monitoring. In any case, if your loved one is suffering more regularly from accidents, they may need to be moved to somewhere safer.
Meal Issues
It is true that many older people can be stubborn and don’t always want to eat what the doctor suggests.
More concerning for many caregivers is when an elderly relative begins to lose weight, forgets their meals, or can no longer prepare them for themselves. This can lead to them becoming hungry and malnourished. A supported living facility will ensure that all of their meals are cooked, so they can get the right food that they need regularly.
Increasing Medical Needs
Going back to the example mentioned earlier of excessive bruising, there are many medical issues that an older person may have. Everything from osteoarthritis to dementia need to be carefully managed in the home, but, as before, if you find that you simply cannot cope with the increasing medical needs of your elderly relative, it may be better for their safety and health to move to an assisted living facility.
Unusual Behaviours
Lastly, if you notice that your elderly loved one is becoming aggressive, moody, withdrawn, or is acting oddly (such as getting up in the night to walk around the house), this can point to degenerative disorders like dementia, which will likely be better managed surrounded by medical staff in a controlled environment.
