![\"Nurse](\"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Know-when-to-get-help-300x200.jpg\")
For most of us independence and privacy is an important condition for a comfortable life. We each have our habits and methods of doing things, and life has a rhythm that just \u201cfits\u201d our personalities. But as people age and physical changes occur, we may find ourselves or loved ones dealing with those changes ineffectively. Sooner or later the question starts ringing in our heads, \u201cWhen should I look for help?\u201d<\/p>\n
But then we think, \u201cOh, I don\u2019t need help. I don\u2019t want to be a burden to anyone.\u201d or \u201cI can\u2019t tell Mom what to do \u2013 she\u2019d never listen to me, anyway.\u201d Or \u201cDad would never accept help, he\u2019s too proud.\u201d or \u201cIt\u2019s not time yet, let\u2019s wait\u201d. And so we wait and do what we can ourselves, all the while still wondering, \u201cWhen should I look for help?\u201d<\/p>\n
The good news is we don\u2019t have to guess. There are some common indicators that help us tell when it\u2019s time to get some help. We don\u2019t have to wait for a crisis situation to throw everyone into a panic. If fact, the goal should be to avoid the crisis, for everyone\u2019s benefit.<\/p>\n
Here are some indicators to consider\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Physical Condition: <\/b>
\nHave you or your loved one been diagnosed with a medical condition that affects their daily living? For example, dressing; grooming, shaving, toileting, eating.<\/p>\n
2. Personal Care: <\/b>
\nAre baths\/showers being taken regularly? Is there any body odor? Are teeth and hair brushed and washed regularly? Are incontinence products worn if necessary and changed regularly and correctly?<\/p>\n
3. Driving: <\/b>
\nHas driving become difficult, uncertain or scary? Have reflexes and decision making slowed? Have new dings, dents or scratches appeared on vehicles?<\/p>\n
4. Nutrition:<\/b>
\nIs your or your loved one\u2019s weight stable? Are you\/they eating regularly and nutritiously? Is the refrigerator properly stocked with a variety of foods? Does all the food have current expiration dates? Is there spoiled food in the refrigerator or on the counters?<\/p>\n
5. Household Tasks: <\/b>
\nAre household chores being done regularly? For example, dusting, laundry, vacuuming. Are bed linens changed regularly? Have household chores become frustrating, physically demanding, or time consuming?<\/p>\n
6. Socialization: <\/b>
\nDo you or your loved one have moods of loneliness, despair, depression, frustration, irritability, or anxiety? Is there fear or insecurity about going out of the house?<\/p>\n
7. Mental Health:<\/b>
\nAre there memory lapses? Is there difficulty finding the right words? Is there inconsistency between words and action? Is anxiety or moodiness evident?
\n8. Medication:
\nAre medications being taken regularly and on time? Are medications being refilled on schedule? Does the senior understand what the medications are being taken for?<\/p>\n
9. Finances, Mail, Paperwork:<\/b>
\nIs the senior having difficulty managing their checkbook, finances, bills and personal affairs? Are there past due notices arriving? Is mail piling up? Is there a reasonable amount of cash on hand? Are important documents or similar items like purses, wallets and keys being misplaced frequently or for long periods of time? Are they appearing in unusual places?<\/p>\n
10. Safety, Security and Sanitation:<\/b>
\nAre appliances being left on such as the stove or coffee pot? Does the senior fall asleep with cigarettes burning? Is the house allowed to get too hot or too cold? Is the house always unlocked? Has the senior fallen in the past 6 months? Have there been multiple falls? Is there clutter on the floor? Is trash piling up in or around the house? Are toilets functioning properly? Is pet debris evident?<\/p>\n
Family members often see the changes in the way a senior moves, acts, thinks, and responds to situations around them but dismiss them until one of two things happen. Either the family begins to spend so much time helping the senior themselves that they have little time for their own responsibilities or the senior experiences a physical or medical crisis. Both of these result in undue stress for the family and the senior. If you have a concern with even one set of indicators, it\u2019s time to acknowledge it, learn more about what is causing it and what options are available to overcome it. Speak openly, calmly, and honestly about the issue and the type of assistance needed to overcome it. Frequently, simple changes can make a big improvement. We encourage you to be proactive and avoid a crisis situation that throws everyone into an emotional reaction. Calm, rational transitions are easier on everyone than stressful ones.<\/p>\n
Finally, keep your efforts as informal as possible. Rather than going through the house like an inspector with a checklist, make your observations through normal, casual interaction. Make a mental note when you see things that are of concern. Keep conversation non-threatening and cooperative. Make every effort to respect the senior\u2019s wishes while assisting with their needs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For most of us independence and privacy is an important condition for a comfortable life. We each have our habits and methods of doing things, and life has a rhythm that just \u201cfits\u201d our personalities. But as people age and physical changes occur, we may find ourselves or loved ones dealing with those changes ineffectively. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[250],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2382","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2382"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2515,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2382\/revisions\/2515"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heartsathome.com\/austin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}