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Health & Fitness

Can My Elderly Parent Live Alone? You and Your Aging Parents

Determining if a senior can continue to live at home must be decided on a case-by-case basis, factoring in the physical, mental and emotional health of the individual and how safe it is for the senior to live independently.

 For seniors with more serious medical conditions, home health care can provide a number of services. Clinical care is available during recovery from an acute illness, while care when coping with a chronic illness is available long-term. Care is also provided for supervising disabilities that limit mobility.

 As you begin to assess your loved one’s living situation, it is important that you are aware of changes in routine, which can be subtle:

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 ·    Hygiene and Personal Appearance: Notice the small things, like outdated food in refrigerator, unread newspapers, or wearing the same shirt on every visit.  These could signal changes in endurance, appetite or vision.

 ·    Medication Management: Be sure that medications are managed properly, as they are crucial to wellbeing and may prevent medical complications.

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 ·    Create a Schedule: Offer help to your loved ones and schedule “work” visits. Scheduling visits for the sole purpose of helping out makes it easier for them to accept. It also engages the elder to create a work list and be involved, and is a way to stay on top of routine chores and repairs.

 When support is required to feel safe at home when managing daily tasks, private care services can offer a wide range of support from cleaning and laundry to bathing, dressing, errands/shopping, meal preparation, mobility assistance, medication management and companionship. Private care can also be combined with home health care to provide a comprehensive combination of services that cover the complete spectrum of medical, personal care and homemaking needs.

 Continuing to care for a senior at home may no longer be safe when physical and/or mental challenges cannot be overcome or managed effectively with either home health care or private care services.  Being observant of the home situation and maintaining constant communication with the home care provider will help determine if the situation is no longer an effective solution.  Consulting your medical professional on what you observe and what home health care reports, can also help you anticipate the need for a change before a more serious event occurs.

 To learn more tips for caring for your loved ones at home, join Hebrew SeniorLife at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, October 16, for “Staying Home - how to be safe and stay connected.” HSL directors Suzie Kaytis and Patricia O’Brien will share their knowledge, offering strategies to maximize the safety and quality of life for your loved one. Learn how to overcome challenges by discovering new resources, options, and strategies for a positive in-home experience. Registration is encouraged but not required, and those interested in attending can register by visiting www.hebrewseniorlife.org/agingparents. This program is free of charge and free parking is provided. Light refreshments will be served.

 To download your copy of the “You and Your Aging Parent” eBook, please visit www.agingredefined.org.

 Clinical care specialists can also evaluate your loved one’s home and recommend adaptive equipment or environmental changes to promote safety.

 

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