Your elderly parent or relative might deny they need assistance, even when they are struggling with daily living. Sometimes, this is not always out of stubbornness but there are always signs your loved one needs home care.

You could pick up these signs if you pay close attention to your loved one but oftentimes, we can all get too caught up with our own personal lives to even notice these struggles.

Whether we have taken out the time to carefully notice the struggles of an aging loved one or not, it is important to provide professional care assistance to cater for their wellbeing when it is needed. And in this guide, I’ll be sharing some of the signs that can indicate your loved one might need urgent professional care, in the following paragraphs…

Increased Forgetfulness & Behavioral Changes

As people age, they can get to experience a decline in their cognitive abilities, compared to what it used to be. This can also be worsened by the onset of health challenges like Alzheimer etc.

If you notice your loved one increasingly forgets important events, medical appointments, meals etc. it might be an indication that they need in-home care assistance.

Beyond forgetfulness, you might also notice some changes in their behaviors like increased irritability, anxiety or memory loss etc., including withdrawal from social activities.

While these might sometimes have other underlying causes which should always be medically checked, it is most often also a sign your loved one needs home care.

A Decline in Physical and Personal Care

Appearance is not always about looking good or presentable. It is a morale booster that can impact social relationships and how one is perceived by others.

When your loved one suddenly stop taking care of themselves, it might be an indication they can no longer manage daily tasks as independently as they used to.

Also, when this happens, without an intervention either by the provision of a caregiver or an alternate option, it might lead to less social outing, social interactions and less physical activities which might eventually affect their wellbeing in the long run.

When you notice your loved one is neglecting their physical appearance, it is important to sit, have a conversation with them, suggest comfortable options and beyond that, you can take steps to get the services of a care provider that will assist with their personal care.

Unkempt home & Living Space

An unkempt or abandoned living space is oftentimes a clear indication your loved one needs help with daily living, even when they are reluctant to admit that.

It is understandable that everyone might not necessarily feel great about cleaning but when your loved one’s residential space becomes more unkempt than it uses to be, that might be a sign they need help.

When you visit them and you notice things like unkempt bed and clothes, dirty dishes, scattered living space, unopened mails, etc., these might just signal your loved one have things they are struggling with.

Show empathy, ask questions and listen to them tell you their struggles but more importantly, suggest home care options that can take the burden of cleaning their living spaces off their shoulders entirely.

Withdrawal and Isolation

Socializing can help us stay connected to our family and loved ones but it also drives out loneliness, builds a sense of belonging while also keeping us happier. This is very important for everyone, including seniors.

When our elderly loved one suddenly becomes more quiet or withdrawn, there might be a lot of issues at stake. From sadness to isolation, depression, financial and health struggles, a lot of things might be responsible for this. But it is also oftentimes a sign, your loved one might need home care.

The easiest way to find out why your loved one suddenly withdraws is to observe and ask questions with empathy and understanding. And then you can take steps to find out solutions, including suggestions for in home care.

Beyond providing external support, it is also important to provide moral support and show understanding as a primary care giver. Make them feel loved, heard, understood and respected.

Poor Nutrition

Regardless of age, a well-balanced nutrition is very important for survival. As our body ages, our nutritional needs and eating habits might change even without our notice.

If you observe your loved one has suddenly started losing weight, lost interest in eating, finds it difficult to prepare food, forgets or is unable to shop or do grocery, it might be a sign your loved one needs home care assistance.

This is because in as much as you want them to eat well and have good health, it might be difficult to manage your own nutrition and theirs, even if you could afford to. So, hiring care assistance to assist with meal prep might just be the right option.

With the right assistance, your senior loved ones can be supported with meal prep, grocery shopping, eating reminders etc. and this can go a long way in improving their wellbeing.

Final Words

Your loved one might be needing home care assistance without getting to ask you. They might also outrightly deny it if you ask them but these signs can help you decipher when they are in need of your help.

While offering assistance and suggestions to your loved one, it is important to do that with kindness, empathy and compassion. Do not make it seem like they will lose their independence instead show them how getting the support they need will make life easier for them.

Also, True Affinity Care, an elder care provider in Toronto, best for Companionship support, Meal Prep, House Cleaning for Elders, Respite care etc. is ready to support you with in home care service, as you navigate aging with your loved one. Reach out for a free assessment here.