5 Tell-Tale Signs Your Parents Need Home Care

Do you believe that it may be time to enlist help for your parents? Home care allows aging adults to stay in their homes for as long as possible while providing them with non-medical caregiving and assistance. All services are customized to your exact needs, ensuring your parents get the appropriate help while maintaining their independence.

Here are five telltale signs that your parents are ready for home health services.

1. Mobility Issues

Each year, about 36 million falls are reported among older adults. These falls result in 32,000 deaths, 3 million emergency room visits and other injuries and complications. If you’ve noticed that your parents aren’t getting around as well as they used to, home health care can help with showers, using the bathroom and getting from one room to the next.

2. Changes in Appearance and Behavior 

Skipping a shower isn’t a big deal, but not showering for a week is. Personal grooming activities – brushing hair, brushing teeth, trimming nails – can become difficult for aging adults. If you notice that Mom and Dad aren’t taking care of themselves like they used to, a home health service can assist.

You may also notice that your parents are experiencing changes in their behavior. Schedule an appointment with their doctor to rule out a medical condition like dementia or depression. If everything checks out, it could be chronic pain, stress or loneliness causing the changes. A home care service can help ease these symptoms.

3. Social Isolation

It’s not uncommon for aging adults to spend most of their time indoors. However, it’s important that your parents enjoy some social activities because they improve cognitive health and prevent depression. Not only can home care services help with getting your parents outdoors, but also the nurses are upbeat companions.

4. Multiple Chronic Health Conditions

Managing one health condition is difficult enough, but managing several can feel overwhelming. And, this is when medical mistakes are more likely to happen. Home care services can help your parents manage their conditions, leading to improved outcomes like fewer symptoms and faster recovery times.

5. Difficulty Managing Medications

Medication errors are the most common medical errors, affecting 1.5 million people every year. Considering that 36 percent of older adults take five prescription drugs, it’s understandable why patients sometimes make mistakes. Home care services will make sure your parents take their medications on time and according to the doctor’s instructions.

Contact VNA Health Group for Home Health Services in New Jersey

VNA Health Group is your source for trusted home care services in NJ. Families use our services on a regular basis to ensure their loved ones’ needs are met, and that they are able to remain in their homes for as long as possible. To learn more about our home health services, contact our team of caregivers today.