If you’re like most family caregivers, you might have found yourself wondering how your senior is really doing. Some of these questions can help you assess her situation.
Home Health Care in Anaheim CA: Aging Adult Health
Does She Still Have Hobbies?
Hobbies or other activities that your senior enjoys may keep her mind and her body active and engaged. The hobbies don’t have to be incredibly involved or anything. The key is that she has activities that she enjoys and that she’s still actively engaging in those activities.
Are Friends and Acquaintances Still Around?
If your elderly family member is still seeing and talking to her friends and acquaintances, she’s still engaging socially. This is really important because social isolation can easily lead to depression and other health problems. If your senior doesn’t have friends, family, and other acquaintances readily available anymore, it might be time to hire senior care providers for companionship. They can help to fill those social gaps for your elderly family member.
Is She as Active and Alert as She’s Always Been?
Are you noticing that your elderly family member just seems a bit dulled? Possibly she’s going through the motions, but when you really observe her, she’s just not the same as she was. This can mean she’s slowing down a bit or it could mean that she needs extra help to keep up with life.
Does She Have an Emergency Plan?
Talk to your elderly family member about whether she has a plan for emergencies, both natural and otherwise. Knowing where shelters are in her area and what she should do if something happens is vital. Toward that end, her plan may involve using specific tools and resources.
What Tools and Resources Does She Have in Case of Emergency?
Some of those tools might include a personal alarm system that consists of a device your senior can activate if she needs help. A full-home alarm system can also incorporate some of these same tools, but provide added security at the same time. Even something as simple as a laminated list of people to call in an emergency that your senior keeps by the phone can be crucial.
You might want to make it a point to do some sort of evaluation on your senior’s overall situation a few times a year. It doesn’t have to be formal, but making a conscious note of how she’s doing helps you to notice changes before they surprise you both.
