Is Your Loved One Doing as Well as They Sound?

Based on her twice weekly phone conversations with her mother, Maya thought everything was fine with her mom’s health. However, when Maya came to visit for the holidays, it was a wakeup call to see the house in disarray and a stack of unpaid bills. She realized that her mother had been unwilling to speak up and ask for help, even though household tasks were becoming more difficult.

It’s not unusual for grown children to live substantial distances from their parents. Even children who live nearby may not see aging loved ones as often as they would like because of long work hours, other family members’ needs and life’s demands. It can be challenging for families to fully assess a loved one’s ability to take good care of themselves while living alone.

At the same time, it’s difficult for older adults who are used to a high level of competence and independence to admit that they need help because they don’t want to be a burden to their loved ones. They may purposely keep details about their health private, be in denial about their problems or even fail to notice a decline in their own functioning.

Untreated Illness Can Lead to Poor

Outcomes
Problems with physical and emotional health can take a toll on senior adults, particularly if they’re living alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), social isolation significantly increases a person’s risk of premature death and is associated with a:
• 50% increase in risk of dementia.
• 29% increase in risk of heart disease.
• 32% increase in risk of stroke.
• Fourfold increase in risk of death from
heart failure.

Signs that It’s Time to Get Help at Home

Getting older is often hard, and physical and emotional changes can be triggered by significant life events, such as bereavement over losing a spouse or family member, managing an illness or moving to an unfamiliar environment.

When a loved one starts to struggle with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), like personal hygiene or grooming, dressing, toileting, walking or moving without assistance and eating, it’s time to enlist help.

While there are warning signs of declining mental or physical health, recognizing them isn’t always straightforward because changes can occur gradually. By the time a loved one notices a decline in functioning, it may have progressed significantly. However, signs to watch for include:
• Decreased energy, irritability or an inability to experience pleasure
• Weight loss and changes in appetite
• Withdrawing from social activities or loss of engagement in normal interests
• Memory problems beyond normal forgetfulness
• Worsened pain
• Changes in balance and mobility or pain during movement may signal joint, muscle or neurological problems that can lead to falls and injuries.

How Kadan Homecare Can Help

Having consistent caregivers and visitors who can notice behavioral changes and serve as the family’s “eyes and ears” allows for quicker interventions.

Kadan Homecare caregivers help improve clients’ quality of life by providing companionship that combats feelings of isolation and loneliness. They also are trained to recognize signs of dementia and other cognitive problems so that timely help can be provided.

Kadan Homecare, a metro Atlanta-based, family-owned home care business celebrating 40 years of caring, has been awarded accolades under Home Care Pulse’s Best of Home Care® recognition program year after year. Contact Kadan for a complimentary in-home consultation to learn more about our commitment to “caring for families like only family can.”