When the time comes to make a choice about placing an elderly loved one in a nursing home, you may feel guilty and heartbroken about it. While some families are able to move their elderly loved into their own homes to provide care, many other families are unable to do that because of their jobs or other circumstances. If you are wondering whether or not your older parent or grandparent needs the care provided in a nursing home setting, check out these signs that mean you may be right.
Household Changes
If your loved one still lives in his or her own home, you may see changes in the home that reveal the person is having trouble getting around or remembering to do things. For example, if the kitchen sink stays full of dirty dishes when it never did before, it could mean that your loved one is having a hard time standing at the sink long enough to wash them. If you find that food is being left in the refrigerator until it is visibly bad, it could be that your loved one is forgetting to toss it out. When your aging parent's or grandparent's normally tidy home starts to look dirty and disheveled, that person could be struggling to get around or having dementia issues.
Uncleanliness
For some elderly people living alone, the fear of falling is real, especially when it comes to falling while getting in and out of the shower or bathtub. If you have noticed your loved one is not washing his or her hair as usual or is wearing the same clothing for several days in a row, bathing may have become a challenge for that person. Some older folks have trouble buttoning their shirt or cannot lift their legs one at a time for putting on pants. If you find your aging loved one is avoiding personal hygiene, it is certainly time to consider other options for helping that person with bathing and getting dressed. In a nursing home, your loved one would always have someone there to lend a helping hand with bathing, buttons, pants, and more.
Sadness and Depression
Lots of older folks living alone become sad and depressed as they watch the world go by without them, especially when they have lost their spouse. If your loved one has lost his or her spouse, that person could be overwhelmingly sad and lonely. The same is true about older folks that no longer have visitors to their home like they did when they were younger. When you see your older loved one experiencing depression, you should know it can lead to other health problems, like anxiety, that are associated with heart problems. Socialization is an important aspect of your loved one's overall well-being. If your loved one lived in a nursing home, he or she could be around other people his or her age.
While making the choice to place an elderly loved one in a nursing home is tough, consider the consequences of leaving him or her in a home without supervision or medical care. Contact a representative from an establishment like Regina Nursing Center for more information.
Share20 May 2016
After I realized that my mom couldn't live on her own anymore, I started shopping for the right assisted living center. It was challenging and she was nervous about making the transition, but I knew that it would be in her best interest. After finding an incredible senior center, I moved her in and she actually started to enjoy the experience. This blog is all about helping your elderly loved ones to settle in, enjoy their time in senior living, and make the most of their new lives. You never know, by making the right decisions, your parents could enjoy a happier, healthier life.
