Instead of passing these changes off as simple holiday stress, it might be a good idea to look at what’s going on in your loved one’s life to see if they may benefit from some extra help during the holiday season. Also, if you’re dreading the conversation about whether your loved one needs help on a more regular basis, the holidays may be a great way to introduce them to the idea of assistance that isn’t intrusive. Once they see how helpful caregivers can be, they may be more willing to accept help on a more permanent basis.
A Caregiver Can Help with Cleaning and Hygiene
If you’ve come home to your loved ones and notice that the house just isn’t as clean as mom usually keeps it, or that your parents’ clothes are a little dirtier than usual, it could be that they’re struggling with laundry, housework, and even personal hygiene.
This change often occurs because our loved ones get tired more quickly than they used to, find that they have less energy, and may place less importance on their appearance as they get older. To top this off, many aging individuals have “close calls” that lead them to be more afraid of doing this kind of work. Whether your mom almost tripped over the vacuum cord, or your father almost fell in the shower, there may be a legitimate reason that they’re scared of doing too much.
A professional caregiver can stop by on a daily basis to help with cleaning and more importantly, to help them feel safe again, so that they are able to maintain their hygiene. This simple act can give them back their health, safety, and most importantly their dignity.
A Caregiver Can Help with Errands and Meal Prep
While our world has become more health conscious over the years, that doesn’t mean that there’s always a reason to cook. If you’ve come home to empty cabinets and pantries, or you notice that your loved one is running low on many essentials such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, and dish soap, there may be a significant reason.
Even when we’re young we have issues remembering everything on our list when we visit the grocery store, but when you’re living alone, or only with another person, remembering to pick up your prescriptions while you’re out getting something to eat isn’t always easy. To top it off, your reactions while driving get slower when you age, making driving very scary.
A caregiver can help by coming in on a daily or weekly basis to both help ensure that there are groceries in the house, and that there are meals readily available for your loved one to enjoy when they’re hungry. Additionally, a caregiver can run errands to help with prescription refills, doctors appointments, and more.
A Caregiver Provides Stress Relief
If mom has gone from a shining light of patience to an angry bitter person seemingly overnight, then it may be due to stress. If you’re noticing that your loved one is suddenly short-tempered, or quiet when they’re usually the life of the party, then it may be a sign that they’re needing help.
A professional caregiver stopping in once a week to help with errands, grocery shopping, light cleaning, and other tasks can help your loved one feel more balanced and reduce that stress.
The holidays are a great time to be with family, but if you’re noticing that something isn’t quite right when you’re home, then it might be time to have a conversation about what kind of help they might need so that they are able to stay in their homes just a little bit longer, if that is their desire.
If you’re needing help finding a way to broach the subject, then don’t forget that Homewatch CareGivers of Annapolis is here for you. It is always a privilege to provide our clients with compassionate and professional assistance. Don’t hesitate to contact us today if you have more questions or keep browsing our website for more information.
