Are You Ready for Senior Care?

It can be a difficult task to take care of our beloved elders. When a senior can no longer live on their own, the decision regarding how and who will care for them may arise. Change can be a difficult thing to accept, especially for a senior citizen; which is why it is important to properly prepare a senior for this next phase of his or her life. Whether they are moving into an assisted living, memory care, or in their own home with home care services, it is important for you to know how to get a senior ready to accept this kind of assistance.

First, how do you determine if your loved one needs senior care? I highly recommend taking a look at our article about the Five Warning Signs That a Senior is Declining, next determine the level of care he or she needs. The level of care a senior need is calculated by how well they perform the activities of daily living (ADL). This consist of our daily routines like bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding. There are also other activities that can refine your decision on what kind of assistance you or your loved one may need. Similar to the ADLs, the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are a group of activities that measure your ability to be independent. The IADLs are comprised of activities like cleaning around the house, cooking food for yourself, socializing, and being transportable outside of the house. With that said, depending on how well a senior can perform these tasks can determine how independent they can live.

Now that know about the different types of senior care facilities, check out some of these tips to get a senior ready to accept help.

Start early

Find some time during the day to ask open-ended questions like, “Mom, where do you see yourself getting older?” or “What are your thoughts about hiring a home health aide to help around the house?”

Be patient

Allow time for your loved one to answer and listen, openly to any of their concerns or objections.

Use indirect approaches

There is no need to explain every little detail of care that will be provided. By being indirect, it can make your loved one feel less threatened.

Offer options

Providing multiple choices can give them a sense of ownership and control over decision making and accepting help.

Whether it’s assisted living, memory care,  or home care, there are many things to look out for when determining if you or a loved one is ready for senior care. At Spring Hills Senior Communities, we provide customized care and understand that the best type of care is care that meets the needs of an individual’s mind, body, and spirit.