When is it Time to Choose a Suitable Care Home for Your Loved Ones?

As we become older, the chances of our physical or cognitive health deteriorating and affecting our abilities to live independently. If you see someone you care about isn't getting around as well as they used to, it's natural to get worried about their health and well-being. It's one of the reasons why so many people begin to consider senior care homes.

However, here are some factors to keep an eye on before choosing a home for your parents or loved ones:

Is your loved one capable of self-care?

There are many early warning symptoms that your parents' ability to care for themselves is failing that you should be aware of.

• Self-neglect, such as failing to clean themselves or their homes
• wearing the same clothing every day
• taking medication inaccurately
• Weight loss
• Depression symptoms like hopelessness, sorrow, impatience, and isolation
• Lack of self-care
• Physical weakness
• Difficulty in sitting, standing, or even walking.

While placing your loved one in a care home for sufficient care and help is a preferable alternative, A care facility also provides a more comfortable and familiar environment for your parents to rest in.

Is Your Family Member Safe at Home?

Check your home for hazards such as useless junk, loose carpets, exposed electrical cords, and other risks that could lead to a fall. However, it's a red signal if your loved one appears to be in danger while climbing stairs or moving around the house.

Moreover, a secure environment is necessary to keep your loved one healthy. Keep on checking them like are they able to do the dishes, clean home, or do laundry easily. Are they able to read and understand medication and other labels?

Many people decide to shift their parents into a care facility when their safety becomes a major issue. These facilities offer a secured, regulated environment in which you will feel certain that your loved one is secure.

Are your parents losing weight?

Weight loss that is sudden and unexplained could be a sign of medical or mental health issues or both. For example:

Unable to cook

It might be difficult to spare the time or motivation to cook, as well as to grasp and handle kitchen items, read labels, and follow directions and recipes.

Losing their appetite

If your parents are losing their appetite day by day. It’s a clear sign that they need assistance and extra care. It could be a major concern for their weight loss.

Loss of smell and taste

These senses naturally deteriorate with age, and eating becomes less pleasurable when food doesn't taste or smell well.

Is your loved one forgetting to take medicine properly?

You'll have to help your ageing parents with a variety of medical issues. Unfortunately, there may be occasions when you are too busy and they forget to take medicine. Unexpected circumstances are also a possibility, which could be stressful for you.

However, you can trust that your parents will receive the required medication at the appropriate time in a care facility. Furthermore, you can rest assured that all medical attention and emergency cases will be handled by professionals.

Care providers can now use digital platforms such as EMAR to check-in drugs and prescriptions. The correct medication information is automatically updated in the MAR chart. It keeps track of medications and prescriptions.

Have your elder's feelings or moods changed?

Everyone is unhappy at times, and the elderly may have a lot to be sad about. Older parents also are sad about losing friends and family. Severe depression, on the other hand, is not a normal part of aging, as some people believe.

Many elders have a positive attitude most of the time if not all of the time. It could be a symptom of depression or another illness. If you observe a change in mood that lasts longer than you think is usual, then you should be serious about it and spend time with them to make them feel happy.

If your parents are scared to move into a care home, then explain the benefits to them. It would be helpful to tell them all you know and to make things as simple as possible for them. Show your parents a number of choices of care homes and urge them to choose the ones.

Is your parents’ memory getting worse?

As we become older, we all lose significant memory. The occasional misplaced keys or missing remote are nothing to be concerned about. Memory loss that affects larger matters, such as where you are, how to drive, and what you just said minutes ago, is concerning. The following are examples of memory loss:

• Repeatedly asking the same questions.
• Getting lost in places.
• Not being able to follow directions.
• Being perplexed regarding time, place, and well-known persons.

However, if your parents have a mental illness like dementia. It demands a certain amount of attention as time passes on. In this case, care homes can help and support these people as much as possible.

Is your family member socially active?

One of the main factors of physical and mental health is social participation. The pandemic has made this difficult for everyone, all of us are suffering from isolation. Check-in on your loved ones to see whether they are staying active, interacting with friends, maintaining hobbies, and engaging in activities that they enjoy.

In addition, many care homes host social events such as game days, fun events, and shared meals to encourage residents to socialise and interact. Furthermore, staff members are constantly here to provide care, help, or company to your ageing parents.

Verdict

Your parents will have highly trained caregivers who focus on residents' health and well-being. They also provide general care after shifting them into a care home. Being in a care home means being around people your own age, which makes living there easier and more pleasant. Furthermore, your parents receive assistance with daily responsibilities such as dressing, bathing, eating, housekeeping, and food preparation. Though, a care management system, such as CareVision, is a digital platform that can help you manage care delivery in your facility. It is designed to serve as a foundation for your administrative operations as well as regulatory reporting requirements for organisations like the CQC.