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Ask-Nurse-Kris

Do your loved ones need help?

As we grow and age ourselves, we often don’t notice the gradual physical, social, or mental changes that are happening to our parents, aunts and uncles and even our grandparents. If we don’t see our loved ones on a regular basis, we may be shocked at the decline when do see them.

“Why didn't’ they tell me they needed help?” is the most common expression vented in frustration. “I could have arranged for someone to come in and help!”

Many parents of baby boomers don’t want to burden us with their troubles. Most of all, most seniors do NOT want to move out of their home to a ‘nursing’ home. They do everything in their power to avoid hearing the words, ‘nursing home’.

The telephone conversation may go something like this, “I’m fine, dear. Don’t you worry about me. Now tell me all about…”.

So how can we tell if our loved one needs home care or help to live independently?

 

1.  If possible, visit with your loved one as often as you can. When visiting, look for telltale signals such as: dishes in the cupboard that still have food particles on them (poor eyesight can’t tell the dishes are still dirty); dusty knick knacks (especially if the senior was a good housekeeper in their earlier years); floors look like they need to be washed or carpets vacuumed.

2.  As you’re visiting listen carefully. Your loved one may say that they don’t use the oven because they can’t lift the pot or the pan into or out of the oven; or perhaps they mention casually that they aren’t taking a bath or shower anymore because it’s too hard to get in and out of the tub or don’t go to the dentist ‘because it’s too expensive’. (Too expensive often means that they have to take a cab there and back, not that the dental services are too expensive!)

3.  If you’re unable to visit and your loved one doesn’t have other family in the area, check with a neighbour and ask them how your loved one is doing. Ask how your loved one gets their groceries or gets to the appointments. If your loved one lives in a condo or apartment, call the building superintendent or resident caretaker and ask how your loved one is making out on their own.

 

Now what?

Explain to your loved one that you can arrange for caregivers to come in and help with whatever is required… once a day, once a week or more, is a good place to start. Your loved one will likely appreciate that you are trying to help them stay in their home, instead of forcing them to a nursing home.

It’s always a good idea BEFORE introducing the topic of home care to your loved one, to check out the various services that are available in your community and their prices.

You may wish to choose an agency that can send one staff member to do a variety of different functions (personal care, housekeeping and meal preparation for example). If you see the need for progressive care for your loved one select an agency who can supply the different levels of care you feel your loved one may need.

We hope these ideas help you help your loved one live independently.

 

If you have any questions please contact us in Kelowna at Advanced Home Care Solutions 250.862.2273 or email Kris at ClinicalDirector [at] AdvancedHomeCareSolutions.com

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

Kris Stewart is the owner, CEO and Clinical Director of Advanced Home Care Solutions Inc, based in Kelowna. She is a well-known, well respected Registered Nurse with advanced nursing and business degrees; she is also an inveterate health care entrepreneur, establishing health care enterprises in Canada and the USA. She is a sought after public speaker on health care and seniors matters, as well as workplace dynamics, and has won several national awards for her work in health care. She is a distinguished Alumni of Thompson Rivers University. Her professional mandate is to ensure that private health care options remain accessible and affordable for all.

Kris can be reached at:  [email protected]

Advanced Home Care Solutions:  http://www.advancedhomecaresolutions.com/about-kris-stewart

 



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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