When you think of home healthcare services, do you picture a nurse helping an elderly person eat, bathe, and get dressed? If so, this picture is quite accurate of the types of services some seniors need, but these are not the only services offered by home healthcare companies. These companies also offer companion care services, and this might be exactly what your senior parent needs. Here are three questions to ask that will help you decide if this is something that could benefit your parent.
Is your parent lonely?
The first question to ask is if your parent seems lonely. Loneliness is very common with seniors that live alone, especially when they are not as mobile as they once were. If your parent can no longer drive, he or she might be stuck home all the time except for the times when you can take him or her places. If you feel like your parent is really lonely, companion care services can be a perfect solution.
Does he or she seem to be sad or depressed?
When seniors are lonely, they often become sad and depressed. This is not only bad for a senior's emotional state, but it can also be hard on a person's health. Depression can cause health risks, and seniors who are depressed may even have a greater chance of dying sooner. Seniors who are socially active are happier and healthier, and they typically feel better and have more energy. If you want your parent to feel better and stay as healthy as possible, he or she might need more socialization in life.
Does your parent call you to help with things often?
Another factor to evaluate is the frequency of calls you get from your parent needing your help. While there may truly be things he or she needs help with, lonely seniors may also call just because they want company.
Companion care services are offered through many home healthcare companies, and they are designed primarily to boost socialization with seniors and people that are home-bound. Hiring a company to provide these services would offer your parent company. This could be simply to have someone to talk to, or it could involve playing games or completing other types of activities together.
If you feel like your parent is becoming sad and depressed from living alone, you may want to look into companion care services and living assistance. You can learn more about this service by talking to a company that offers home healthcare services.
Share13 April 2017
My husband and I recently moved his mother to an assisted living facility. My name is Audrey Martin, and I am going to share our experience with you. My mother-in-law is eighty-two years old. She has been living on her own for twelve years since her husband passed away. My husband, David, is her only child. That left us in charge of making this decision for her since she has declined to the point of not being able to make sound decisions on her own. I’m not going to tell you that it’s been easy, but I will say that it can be done. I hope that what I’m about to share proves to be helpful to you should the time come that you are the one moving a loved one to an assisted living facility. Thanks for stopping by!