Is a Caregiver is Needed for Dad

Dad’s pills take up the whole kitchen counter.    An elderly person takes, on average, four or five prescription drugs and two over-the-counter medications at any given time. Unfortunately, this leads to a number of problems. First, many elders make medication errors or have difficulty managing their regime. Second, many are prescribed inappropriate drugs or suffer from interactions. The incidence of drug interactions rises from 6% when taking two medications to as high as 50% when taking five a day.

For this reason, medication assistance is one of the most valuable services a home caregiver can provide.

Additionally, multiple medications usually indicate Dad is managing various conditions and seeing different doctors. He may need a care manager advocate if you cannot attend all appointments. And, even if you could, you may benefit from a professional’s help.

Have you noticed Dad can’t explain her conditions or treatments? Does he say “Nothing new.” or “Everything’s fine.” when you ask what happened at the doctor? Get peace of mind with care coordination to ensure Dad’s getting what she needs and wants.

1. His diet consists of frozen meals, canned goods and junk food.

The fridge and pantry are two of the first places to look for clues. If Dad’s meals now consist of snacks or microwavable meals, he’s likely having trouble with meal prep. This is a sign he may need help with things like meal planning, grocery shopping and cooking. It’s also an indication he may be lonely or depressed. And, it’s a bad sign for hisr health.

For seniors who live alone, this pattern is quite common. Meals tend to be a social activity. Living alone, we may feel less inclined to prepare a nice meal. Dad may take to grabbing a bowl of cereal in front of the TV.

Because there are many steps to preparing a fresh, varied diet, it’s often one of the first things to slip. The contents of the fridge might reveal deeper issues, like memory problems or worries about driving (to the store) too.

Dad’s housekeeping is getting worse

doesn’t pass the white glove test anymore. Or, perhaps it’s well beyond that into hoarding territory. This is all relative, but you know your Dad’s housekeeping standards. The home may still seem perfectly fine to you or outsiders. But, take note if Dad no longer does tasks he once felt mandatory. Are you seeing dusty furniture? Unmade beds? Rooms closed off and unused because he doesn’t want to clean or has piled things up there? Spoiled food in the fridge?

The ideal time to take note is when the signs are subtle. At this point, you can hire a caregiver even for just a few hours/week to help with the difficult tasks. A tidy home is not only healthy (for falls/fire/accident prevention and sanitation) but a happier environment.

We’ve seen countless seniors hurt themselves (often severely) cleaning gutters, clearing tree branches, doing pool upkeep and other household tasks. If you’re having a hard time convincing Dad to hire someone, schedule a time to chat with one of our team. We have a lot of experience in this area.

And, unfortunately, hoarding is another common reason we get calls. This might range from clutter simply getting out of hand due to various difficulties, all the way to a significant hoarding disorder. Hoarding is more common among older adults and becomes worse with age. Our team has dealt with many hoarding cases and household messes of all types. You can engage our expert care managers to help you with the approach and resources.

Dad’s gone from Dapper Dan to Sloppy Sam

Okay, it may not be this extreme. But, you might notice changes in Mom’s appearance and personal upkeep. Perhaps Mom is wearing the same outfit each time you see her. Some families start to notice an odor or can tell Mom isn’t washing her hair anymore. Are you surprised by what Mom’s wearing to church? Or, if it’s Dad, perhaps you see him with 5 o’clock shadow for the first time ever?

All of this points to various difficulties. Laundry and ironing require certain strength and stamina. Personal hygiene might suffer because of the difficulty of the tasks, or memory problems or depression.

Hygiene and personal care can be a sensitive subject. It’s also awkward for most adult children to help their parents with bathing, dressing, and the like. A well-trained home caregiver knows the approach and technique to turn this from awkward to pampering. Just imagine how much better Mom will feel. The pride of feeling fresh and looking nice makes a world of difference for mental and physical health.