If you’re considering senior care for a loved one but aren’t sure if it’s necessary, you’ve come to the right place. We will go over what senior care is and when you should consider it for your loved one.
What is senior care?
Senior care, also known as eldercare, is specialized care for senior citizens at different stages. It is a broad term that encompasses adult day care, home care, assisted living, nursing care and hospice care. Keep in mind that just because your loved one is aging does not mean that they need senior care. Rather, what must be considered is the illnesses and limitations that come with aging.
When is senior care needed?
Many senior citizens never require any type of senior care. But if your loved one is having trouble with activities of daily living or activities of daily living like cooking, cleaning, driving, shopping, dressing, bathing and taking medication regularly, that is a sign that they may need some form of senior care.
If your loved one’s health is declining, they are forgetting to take their medication on time, they are having difficulty seeing, they are unable to move safely around their house or they are even having trouble getting in and out of the bathtub, they need senior care. The need for senior care can occur gradually or happen very quickly, like in the case of a stroke or a broken hip.
If your loved one has a physical, mental or emotional health condition that is keeping them from safely completing their daily living activities, they need senior care. Watch out for the following warning signs:
• Physical issues like chronic health conditions, sensory issues, walking problems or any other temporary or permanent physical limitations that limit their ability to complete activities of daily living – or ADLs.
• Cognitive issues like attention problems, memory loss, language problems, confusion, dementia and forgetting to take medications as prescribed.
• Emotional issues like loneliness, social withdrawal, depression, changes in personality and loss of interest in daily activities
If you’re considering senior care for a loved one in McLean, VA, look no further than Capital City Nurses. Call 866-807-7307.
For more updates, follow us on Facebook.
