Supporting Your Elderly Parent to Remain At Home
If your parent has lived in their home for a long time and they are very comfortable there, the first choice for elderly care should be enabling them to remain in the home they love for as long as possible, as this will be a reassuring comfort to them as their condition progresses. This is what we do at Helping Hands and have been doing for more than thirty years, since we were first established in 1989. Additionally, if your parent is living with dementia, being able to remain in the home they love may help to reduce anxiety and confusion that can be made worse by changing surroundings.
Are Falls Frequent?
If someone is at risk of or has experienced falls, there may be concern from all parties that they cannot continue living at home without some additional support, however this doesn’t mean they must move to a care home. For most people there’s no place like their own home, so being able to remain there for as long as possible with carer support would be the ideal solution. While remaining at home with a carer can make a real difference to a loved one’s t’s important that falls are always investigated by a healthcare professional as there could be an underlying health issue.
Maintaining personal care
If you have noticed a decline in the personal hygiene of your family member or friend, then it may be an indicator of an underlying issue such as depression, dementia, or physical limitation. They may be neglecting themselves due to forgetting how to keep themselves and their clothing clean, or that they cannot motivate themselves to do so. It could also be because a physical frailty is making such tasks uncomfortable or painful, leading them to avoid doing so.
Housekeeping Not Up To Date
It’s said that a person’s surroundings directly affect their mental health, and there is a famous saying: “cluttered house, cluttered mind.” A home kept free from clutter can be a real benefit both mentally and physically, and cluttered rooms can also pose a trip or fall hazard. If your loved one has lost interest in keeping their surroundings tidy it could also be a sign of underlying emotional or physical difficulty.
Weight loss
Losing weight isn’t unusual in older age – this can be due to diminished appetite, because of underlying health conditions, or the side effects of medication. When a person is living with dementia they can refuse food for a number of reasons, such as forgetting that they haven’t eaten already, or a loss of taste. Being unwilling to eat could also be because of something unrelated to dementia, such as ill-fitting dentures, or a fear of choking.
Becoming defensive
If your loved one is becoming defensive about certain actions and they’ve been diagnosed with dementia, it could be as a result of their condition, or perhaps the side effects to a medication they’re taking. They could also be going through a difficult time emotionally, perhaps because the question of care has been discussed with them and they are not sure whether they wish to go into a care home or stay in the home they love. By seeking care and support from Helping Hands, your loved ones will be fully supported in the way that they want, and you will have the reassurance of knowing that your emotional wellbeing is also high on our list of priorities.
What Options Are Available For An Elderly Parent?
There are several options for an older person who needs additional support to live as well as possible, whether that be having a carer visiting their home, living in their home, or them relocating to supported living or a care home. If they wish to stay in the place that means the world to them though, Helping Hands are the home care experts, and by arranging for our visiting care or live-in care service to come and support them they’ll get the best of both worlds.
Live-In Care Support
Having a stranger moving into their home may sound like a daunting prospect for your loved one, yet our live-in carers are so supportive and respectful of your parent’s space that they’ll soon become a valued friend. By living in their home with them they are available to provide every aspect of care that they need, combined with all the companionship they want. They’ll undertake everything from medication and personal care to housework and meal preparation, and they’ll always respect their preferences and never overstep boundaries.
Visiting Elderly Care Services
Our visiting carers are amazing at what they do, visiting several customers a day in their homes and providing the essential care they need to live as independently as possible. Our visiting carers will be able to support every aspect of your parent’s daily routine, and because all of our care services design a bespoke package of care around their requirements, we guarantee that nothing will be overlooked. All of our supportive carers will go above and beyond to ensure your parent lives their best possible life at home, including helping them access the community, if they wish to.
Assisted Living
We know how important it is for your parent to remain in their own home if that’s where they want to be, and so do you. After all, that’s likely the place where they feel most comfortable, and it may well be where you and any siblings were brought up and spent many happy memories. They may have a garden they adore or precious pets they don’t want to leave, and not least, a partner who’s been by their side for decades. All of these things and so much more are deeply important to you and your family, and at Helping Hands we understand why your parents want to remain in their home. Therefore, by choosing assisted living services on either a visiting or live-in basis they can remain in the home they love, while you have the reassurance that they are being cared for as they deserve to be.
Residential Care
Whilst we believe that live-in care is the best alternative to a care home, we understand that some people may prefer the idea of having staff on hand day or night as a reassurance that they’re never alone and presume that can only be achieved in residential care. This definitely isn’t the case though, as with Helping Hands we can provide live-in carers who will be available around the clock, specific night care or a combination of both. This ensures that you will get all the care and support you need and never have to worry about being on your own and unable to manage.
Keep Your Elderly Parent Independent At Home With Helping Hands
By choosing Helping Hands for your parent’s essential elderly care, we can give you a peace of mind that they’re happy remaining in the place that means the world to them, while you know they’re being properly cared for. All of our care is fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, and our local care teams across England and Wales will ensure there is always support whenever you need it. Call us today or request a call back on our website and we’ll be in touch at a time that suits you.
Page reviewed by Deanna Lane on August 17, 2022