Signs that You Need to Increase the Level of Care Provided
Learn about the various signs that may indicate a loved one needs more help in the home. From physical difficulties to financial struggles and cognitive changes, this guide covers a range of indicators to watch for.
by Diane
(Your LIfe Care Advocate)
Here is a list of things that you may want to observe to identify that more help is needed.
PHYSICAL SIGNS
1. There will be some difficulty with walking. May start to hold onto furniture or walls when ambulating.
2. Experiencing frequently falls or unsteadiness. You may see the presence of bruises.
3. Decline in personal hygiene or grooming.May start to wear stained clothes,have body odor, infrequently bathes or washes hair. May wear the same clothes day after day.
4 Experiences changes in eating habits. May only snack, have a decreased appetite, eat one meal a day, forget to eat,makes poor food choices,or has a refrigerator of expired food or no food in the refrigerator.
5. Starts having problems with incontinence.
6. The home environment is unsafe. Maybe it is unclean, has cluttered walkways or poor lighting. The home may need repairs. There are broken or missing smoke detectors, lack of security, may leave doors unlocked or the stove or oven on.
7. Experiences significant weight loss or gain.
8. Lives in chronic pain
9.Abuses alcohol or prescription drugs.
How to Help the Elderly Accept Help
FINANCIAL SIGNS
10. There are unpaid or past due bills.
11. Unopened piles of mail.
12. Becomes unable to manage their checkbook.
13. Difficulty dealing with money properly.
14. May be a victim of scams or financial abuse.
COGNITIVE SIGNS
15. Experiences poor or decreased judgment.
16. Has difficulty coordinating or monitoring and being compliant with different medications.
17. May experience paranoia, forgetfulness or memory loss.
18. Gets lost and can?t find their way back home, in familiar surroundings.
19. Leaves stove on, unplugs the refrigerator.
20. Has difficulty recognizing friends or family members. May not remember them at all.
21. Forgets to take medications, or taking it improperly.
22. Becomes increasingly forgetful. Misses doctor’s appointments, family events. May forget names of individuals or objects. Frequently looses things or places things in unusual places.
23. May start to be repetitive in questions or stories.
24.May become physically or verbally abusive.
25. May start to experience delusions or hallucinations. This may exhibit as a different perspective of objects or events that others don?t see or developing false beliefs.
26. May start to call adult children or friends repeatedly at inappropriate hours of day or night.
SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL SIGNS
27. Social Isolation
28. Experiences mood changes such as anger, suspicion, paranoia,or agitation.
29. Becomes depressed or feels lonely. May exhibit this by crying, feelings of sadness or have lack of energy or feelings of hopelessness. May experience an increase or decrease in sleeping and/or appetite.
30 Exhibits a lack of interest in formerly enjoyable activities.may stop participating in social, church or volunteer activities.
These are just a few indicators that you may want to get help or increase help in the home.
Our Resources section can help you find the information and tools that you need. We have courses, videos, checklists, guidebooks, cheat sheets, how-to guides and more.
You can get started by clicking on the link below. We know that taking care of a loved one is hard work, but with our help you can get the support that you need.
Click here to go to Resources Section now!
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