It can be frightening to suddenly suspect that your senior loved one isn’t doing as well as she once was. You might notice that she’s having trouble managing household tasks or that she’s losing weight rapidly. Any of these signs can make you dig deeper to determine whether she needs more help than she currently has.
Open a Conversation with Your Senior Loved One
The first step is to talk with your loved one about what you’re noticing. Many times senior loved ones are nervous about bringing up the topic because they’re not sure how the situation is going to go. Opening up the conversation with your loved one can help you both to understand and express that it’s all going to be okay.
Make Time for a Doctor’s Appointment
If your loved one hasn’t already been to see her doctor about this situation, it’s time to go ahead and make an appointment. Your loved one’s doctor can help you to determine what she needs now and what she’s going to need in the future. There may be medications or adjustments to her current medication that can help, too.
Resolve What You Can at Home for Your Loved One’s Safety
As you’ve noticed your loved one’s situation changing, you’ve likely also noticed what you can do in order to make life easier and safer for her. For instance, there may be house repairs that can help, such as fixing worn carpeting or installing grab bars in hallways. Make a list and prioritize that list to tackle the biggest issues first.
Look at What Else You Can Do to Provide Extra Help
Your loved one might need extra help with housework or preparing meals. You might be able to handle some of those tasks for her, but that doesn’t mean you can do it all yourself. You can become the point person for organizing other family members to provide other help or you might want to look into hiring senior home care providers. It all depends on what your loved one needs and what you can do for her with the resources you have available.
Now that you and your senior loved one have a plan, you can start to take actionable steps to get her the help that she needs.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Services in North Miami FL, contact the caring staff at Providence Healthcare Services. We provide services in all of Miami Dade county and the Upper Keys. Call today (305) 680-5349.
