Noticed your Mum or Dad isn’t coping living at home as well as they used to?
Seeing our parents age can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, how wonderful that they have reached a ripe old age and enjoyed so many life experiences. On the other hand, it can be challenging to see them struggle with everyday tasks that they used to take in their stride.
So how do you know whether it’s still safe for them to live in their own home, or whether you need to consider the next steps?
Here, we’ve explored some of the signs to look out for and what you can do to help.
Signs your parent might be struggling at home
Changes in mobility - Is your parent having difficulty getting in and out of chairs, or up and down stairs? Are they holding on to furniture or walls when they walk through the house? Even small changes in mobility can lead to an increase in falls. It can also lead to a less active lifestyle and a reduced interest in getting out and about, which in turn, can affect their quality of life, and physical and mental health.
An increase in confusion or forgetfulness - Is your Mum or Dad displaying signs of dementia, like asking the same questions over and over, frequently misplacing items, or forgetting people’s names? Or are they displaying more concerning behaviour like wandering or forgetting to turn the stove off, which can make living alone at home very unsafe?
Losing weight – Sometimes elderly people lose interest in preparing meals for themselves, choose less nutritious options, or experience a general loss of appetite. Without proper management, this can quickly cause health issues, including malnutrition, or it can also be a sign of other underlying medical conditions.
Issues with personal or household hygiene – Changes in a loved one’s ability to take care of themselves and their home environment can be a cause of concern. If you’ve noticed their house doesn’t seem as clean as it used to, or their personal grooming standards are dropping, it might be a sign they aren’t able to take care of themselves.
Other signs could include changes in mood, having trouble managing a diary, withdrawing from their usual social activities, missing medication or taking incorrect doses, displaying irritability or frustration, recurring hospital visits, or avoiding communication with friends and family.
So, what can you do to help?
The first step is to visit their GP with them to discuss your concerns and start the process of applying for an ACAT Assessment through My Aged Care (visit www.myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422). Ask your GP what care and support options might be available, such as:
A mobile alarm with fall detection alert
A medication management system, eg. Webster Pack
Help from a home care provider
It takes a while to complete an ACAT, so it’s a good idea to start this process early. Read our blog for more information on what this is and how to arrange one.
What about residential aged care?
We all want our parents to feel safe and secure and to enjoy the best quality of life possible. At some stage, this might mean moving them into a residential aged care community, like Tenterfield Care.
Here, they can receive around-the-clock care and support from a dedicated and compassionate team of Nurses and Carers, a full home-cooked meal service, housekeeping and laundry services, a meaningful and engaging lifestyle program, daily social interaction, Church services and pastoral care.
Residential aged care is affordable. It’s means-tested, government funded and there are multiple pricing options. We explain more in in our blog, “How much does aged care actually cost”, or you can find out more on www.myagedcare.gov.au.
Our knowledgeable and friendly team is here to help you with any questions about aged care support, or to arrange a private tour of our community. Call us on (02) 6736 0300.
More information
We have more resources to help you with your aged care journey here [add link]. Read why residents love living at Tenterfield Care here, and why our team members love working with us here.
To find out more about our welcoming community, call our friendly admissions team on (02) 6736 0300 or emailing info@tenterfieldcare.org.au.
