Home Care Boise, Id: Signs That Your Aging Family Member Should No Longer Be Living Alone}

Home Care Boise, ID: Signs that Your Aging Family Member Should No Longer Be Living Alone

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John O’KeeffeThe house is not tidy.This could be due to a loss of interest or energy. This is particularly concerning if they are normally neat and organized. It may also be accompanied by a decline in personal hygiene.Food in the refrigerator goes uneaten or is spoiled.The effort to shop, cook, and clean becomes overwhelming. They might be eating just enough to maintain weight, but are not eating nutritional meals. Actually losing weight would leave little doubt if they are otherwise healthy.Mail and bills are gathering dust.This could show a lack of interest or depression. Dealing with one’s mail should not require very much energy, so this can be a troubling sign.Using stairs becoming difficult.Complaints of dizziness or unsteadiness on their feet may become evident. This is particularly troubling since a severe injury resulting from a fall could occur.Inappropriate behavior.They may act in ways completely out-of-character to them. This could be a sign of mental decline or confusion. If they are having lapses in concentration, it could be dangerous if they forget the stove is on, for example. You might look for signs of scorching on the bottom of pots and pans. This could indicate they have previously forgotten something is cooking on the stove.Your loved one’s friends may have noticed changes in their behavior. You might engage them in conversation and casually mention the subject. They may see them more day-to-day than you, or something may have escaped your notice which is apparent to them.You can establish a baseline of behavior by spending quality time with them. If there are any sudden departures from this behavior, you might look further into it. It could be nothing, or it could indicate a decline in functioning that needs to be addressed.If you suspect your aging loved one is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, you should consider talking to their doctor before confronting them. They have expertise in this area and can tell you if your concerns are valid and if your loved one might benefit from tests.Yard unkempt.The yard is not mowed. The garden, if they had one, is uncared for. Many plants are dead and dying. Shrubs and trees are not pruned. The area just shows a general attitude of neglect.Forgetting to take medication.This could be simple forgetfulness that we all experience occasionally. It could also be something more serious if it happens frequently. Not only would it show some signs of mental decline or dementia, but can be very dangerous in and of itself. You might talk with them to see if they are truly forgetting to take the medication or maybe they are doing it on purpose. Their medication might need adjusting if it causes objectionable side effects.As you consider the signs that your loved one might require a caregiver, remember to always treat them with dignity and respect. After all, it will not be long before you will be in their shoes as well.Boise Senior Home Care experts at Havenwood Caregiver Services are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care in Boise.

Johne O’Keeffe, Owner at Havenwood Caregiver Services of Boise, ID

boiseseniorhomecare.com/Havenwood Caregiver Services, 2417 N Cole Road, Boise, ID, 83704, (208) 327-1011

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