Aging is a completely natural part of life. However, as we and our loved ones grow older, we face difficulties that make daily life challenging and difficult. While some elderly want to maintain their independence for years, they may need additional support to ensure their health and safety.
In order to ensure their well-being and quality of life, it is important for surrounding families to pay attention to and notice the signs of declining health. Everyone wants to live in a comfortable and familiar setting where they feel like they have some control over their lives. This is where home health care comes in.
Home health care brings what you want for your loved ones right to their homes, which is the right kind of attention and help. However, you need to recognize when an elderly needs home health care. To help you with this, we share in detail all the signs you should focus on in the early stages so you can take action accordingly.
What Is Home Health Care?
Home health care is a service through which your loved one will receive the care they need while maintaining their independence. This is because the services are brought right to the care recipient’s door. Through this, the quality of their life is maintained.
Home health care consists of both professional medical and non-medical services provided to the elderly in their homes. Under this, there are several types of services available, such as assistance with daily activities, transportation services, skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and medication management.
So, by identifying when an elderly individual needs home health care, you can prevent any health complications and ensure they receive the proper support.
What are Key Signs That Home Health Care Is Needed?
There are some key signs that are very indicative of your loved ones’ health. If you focus on them enough to see any gradual or major changes, you should take action accordingly. Some of these signs include:
Physical Health Decline
As people age, their physical limitations make carrying out daily tasks challenging. There are a few physical signs that can help you understand if your loved one is struggling.
- Firstly, if you notice any changes in their weight, particularly if they have lost weight rapidly. In such cases, you should pay attention to their eating and drinking habits.
- You should also check if they are having any difficulty in standing, walking, sitting, or moving around.
- Bruises or minor injuries can also raise some red flags about any fall or incident your loved one has faced.
- However, one of the biggest indicators is poor personal hygiene. This includes not keeping up with their grooming habits and wearing the same outfit constantly.
Cognitive and Mental Health Decline
If you are concerned that your loved one is experiencing cognitive decline, you should pay closer attention to signs such as:
- Notice if they are in a state of general confusion most of the time.
- Check if they are suffering from excessive forgetfulness or issues with memory loss. This can manifest in them having a difficult time keeping track of things such as medications and appointments.
- Loss of learning and reasoning capabilities is also one of the biggest indicators of cognitive decline. This will undoubtedly get in their way of life.
Increased Need for Medical Assistance
If it seems like your loved one suddenly needs a lot of medical support, it may signal the need for professional care to step in.
- For example, if there is a rise in hospital visits or even hospitalizations, this means they might be suffering from chronic health conditions. This will require constant monitoring.
- Even things like medication mismanagement, such as forgetting to take their medication on time or taking the wrong dosage, can signal that there is something wrong.
- If your loved one is complaining about any constant discomfort or pain, you should focus on that and make the necessary arrangements.
Getting Diagnosed With a Serious Illness
If your loved one has been recently diagnosed with a serious illness, then considering home health care is a great option. This is because in cases like these, they need to be handled with skilled care by a number of people like licensed nurses, occupation, and speech therapists. They will help manage the symptoms and stay away from constantly visiting the hospital. Some of the health conditions that home health care is adept at handling are:
- Any heart conditions such as stroke or failure
- COPD or any respiratory conditions
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Diabetes
Behavioral and Lifestyle Changes
Another one of the key signs that your loved ones need home health care is abrupt behavioral and lifestyle changes. If they show any unusual behavior or show signs of struggling with everyday tasks, it is an indication of something serious. Such as:
- Neglecting their daily tasks as a result of a messy, unsafe, and unclean environment.
- Socially start to isolate themselves from the community including friends and family.
- They don’t have the motivation to do anything, including the activities they used to enjoy once.
When Family Caregiving Is No Longer Enough?
Family members are the ones who often get into the role of taking care of their loved ones. However, there are cases where care from family is not enough, and professional care is necessary.
Not only that, but the amount of work can get overwhelming for the family. If you are facing any kind of stress or burnout, you should consider home health care. It can also be that you simply do not have the time or resources to provide adequate care. Or you may just be concerned about your loved ones’ safety and medical supervision.
How Home Health Care Helps?
Now, you may be wondering how home health care can help in making your life easier. Well, the short answer is, from physical tasks such as meal preparation and even transportation, they provide it all. They even go as far as providing companionship services to the elderly, which you can access if you are not around. Some examples of home healthcare services include:
- Running errands, housekeeping services, and meal preparation
- Personal care, including bathing and dressing needs
You can select the type and number of services you want for your loved ones from the list according to their needs and preferences. This is one of the biggest advantages of choosing home health care.
Find High-Quality Home Health Care at DHCare
Once you have shortlisted the type of care you want for your loved one, the next step is to find the right home care agency. It is very crucial to find the perfect agency because you will be handing over the well-being of a person to them. This is where DHCare will make your process much easier and stress-free.
At DHCare, we are always pushing ourselves to provide the best and comfortable home care services to our recipients. This is because our goal is always to bring the best standard of living to both you and your loved ones.
We are always on call to cater to any client needs or questions you might have. Not only that, but we always make the process of receiving care services flexible, fast, and easy. You can stay assured about the quality of service your loved ones are receiving with us.
FAQs
What services does home health care typically include?
Home health care typically includes services such as nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medication management, and assistance with daily activities.
Can home health care be customized to specific medical conditions?
Yes, the best part about home health care is that it can be tailored to meet individual needs. This includes any specialized care you may want for conditions such as stroke recovery, post-surgery care, dementia, and chronic disease management support.
What are the qualifications of home health care professionals?
Home health care professionals typically consist of licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides, and physical therapists.
How much does home health care cost, and is it covered by insurance?
The cost of home health care varies based on the level of care required by an individual. In the case of insurance, some of the services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. To ensure your healthcare is covered by insurance, it is best to check with your provider.