When it comes to our loved ones, it can be difficult to recognize when they may need extra help. As you spend time with them, it’s important to be aware of signs and symptoms that indicate your loved one may benefit from professional in-home care in addition to non-professional caregiver duties.
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Here are some signs to look for when visiting your loved ones:
Signs That Your Loved One May Need Professional In-Home Care Support
Having trouble with daily tasks
Is your loved one having difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as bathing, dressing, grooming, or preparing food?
Professional in-home care providers can assist with these tasks to ensure your loved one’s daily needs are met. Unlike home health care which is provided in one’s home to treat a particular illness or injury, this type of in-home care aimed at assisting an individual with their activities of daily living (ADL) is typically private pay. While cost-prohibitive for some, for others in-home care allows your loved one to remain in place – in their own home or the home of their non-professional caregiver – and eliminates costs associated with a live-in facility.
Noticeable physical changes
Are there signs of physical decline, such as:
- weight loss
- pain
- or a change in mobility?
These noticeable signs of decline may be attributed to a variety of causes. In many cases it’s best to receive professional evaluation to help determine what level of in-home care may be appropriate, from private pay professional assistance with activities of daily living to interdisciplinary hospice or palliative services which may be covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Your primary care physician, a gerontologist or a geriatric case manager (if dealing with seniors) may be helpful in determining levels of need.
Experiencing cognitive issues
Is your loved one showing signs of cognitive decline, such as:
- memory problems
- changes in mood or personality
- confusion
- disorientation
- or delirium?
If your loved one is diagnosed with a progressive disease like dementia, your in-home care team can work with you and your loved one to develop a treatment plan that empowers them to navigate these challenges from the comfort of their home.
Becoming isolated
Has your loved one stopped engaging in activities they would typically enjoy, like meeting up with friends or visiting family?
In addition to the companionship provided by family and friends serving as caregivers, professional in-home care providers can help alleviate social isolation. These providers can identify and address the reason your loved one is abstaining from social activities (physical or mental), remind them when they have social engagements, furnish transportation to and from social events, and provide companionship services.
Living conditions becoming unkempt
Is your relative’s house becoming unkempt or cluttered as compared to its usual state? Depending on the person, this may look like laundry accumulating for multiple weeks on end, dishes being left in the sink for days, excessive, visible dirt inside living spaces, or items piling up in walkways that should be kept clear. The changes may even be more subtle depending on the individual’s previous baseline. This can be a lesser-known indicator of the need for additional support. Private duty in-home care professionals can help with housekeeping and home maintenance to ensure your loved one’s home stays clean and safe to navigate.
Refusal to accept help from family or friends
Is your loved one refusing to accept help from family or friends? This refusal may be direct with an outright no or may manifest as the individual continually pushing action into the future. Often, your loved one may be refusing help because they are unaware of their symptoms and think they don’t need it, or because they don’t want to place a burden on those around them. This can be a good point for in-home care providers to step in and deliver the care your loved one needs. Many family or non-professional caregivers are already spread thin, balancing their other responsibilities and time spent with their loved one. While there is a financial cost associated with professional, in-home support, it can help alleviate stress on non-professional caregivers, even if only used occasionally to provide respite.
Recognizing it is Time to Get Professional In-home Support
If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to consider in-home care for your relative. The extra support can help improve your loved one’s quality of life and ensure their needs are met while giving you peace of mind that their health is being monitored while they remain in the place where they feel the most comfortable.
If your loved one requires a level of help that goes beyond what a non-skilled care provider can offer – in other words, has a medical need – it may be appropriate to explore a higher level of skilled care, ranging from home health to hospice care, depending on the individuals’ needs and prognosis.
While non-skilled in-home care is often paid for privately, skilled levels of care – home health, palliative care, and hospice – may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and private insurance payers for certain periods of time. If your loved one is a veteran, they may be eligible for financial assistance through Veteran’s Affairs.
Finding Care for Your Loved One
To find an in-home care provider, start by reading our tips on navigating Care Compare, a website created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), to help people find and compare local healthcare providers. Once you use Care Compare, locate an in-home care organization that’s a good fit for your family, contact the organization to schedule an initial assessment.
