As our loved ones age, it is incredibly important to listen to their wishes regarding how and where they would like to get older. Now more than ever, older generations are preferring to maintain their independence and age in their own homes. If this is your loved one’s wish, you may be wondering, how do I know what kind of care they will need in orderto age in place? To help you do what’s best for your loved one, here are some tips on how to assess the level of care your loved one needs to live at home.
Know Your Loved One’s Diagnoses
Before you start assessing the level of care your loved one needs at home, it is important to first know what their diagnoses are so you can better cater their care to their needs. If your loved one has dementia, this most likely means your loved one requires memory care in addition to any other care they need. If they have been diagnosed with a mobility disorder that will progress, the level of care your loved one needs to live independently will change over time.
Make a list of your loved one’s diagnoses and all that these might entail, and work from there.
Notice Adaptations that could Help Your Loved One
When you are with your loved one in their home, observe how they go about their day and make sure to notice what they have trouble with. Do they struggle with getting up and down stairs?
Trouble with using utensils? The phone? Do they have memory issues? Make note of the things they need most in their daily life and what adaptations their house could use to help them. Talk to them about things they struggle with—you might not see everything. If you determine that your loved one needs a care assistant, these are the types of things to share with them.
How Often is Your Loved One on Their Own?
Living independently does not mean that your loved one will be on their own all the time. If you or your other lovedones will be visiting or checking up on them often, they may not need around the clock in-home care. If you determine that you or another family member cannot make sure your loved one is safe and cared for when you are not there, you may want to consider getting an in-home care-giver to visit them and provide the necessary assistance.
We understand that making sure your loved one is comfortable and as independent as possible at home is very important to you, and as such, it is just as important to us. Delta Center can help you determine the level of care your loved one needs with an Aging in Place assessment, which is carried out in your loved one’s home by one of Delta Center’s certified staff members. The staff member will get to know your loved one and their needs, using their expertise to determine the level of care necessary for your loved one to live freely and independently in their home.For more information about Delta Center’s Aging in Place program, visit our website here.