Making the decision to move your elderly parent into a care home can be one that is often very emotional and in some cases heart-wrenching. However, while many people want to be able to care for their parents at home for as long as possible, there are some situations where a care home is the best option. In many cases, moving to a care home is the safest option for older people who have poor health or are suffering from neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. If you have noticed that your parent or another elderly relative is having more falls, not eating properly, or is increasingly confused and disoriented, then moving to a care home may be something you have considered.
More Falls and Accidents
Lots of falls and accidents can be a sign that an elderly parent or relative might be struggling to manage on their own in their own home. While trips and falls are not uncommon in older people from time to time, if you are often worried that your loved one is going to be seriously injured, or they have been having a worrying amount of falls recently, then it might be time to consider making the move to ensure that they get the care that they need and are kept safe at valeviewheights.com.
Increasing Confusion
Increasing signs of confusion and disorientation in older people can often be a sign of dementia, which can be seriously unsafe for older people who are living on their own. It might be time to consider moving your loved one to a professional care home where they will be looked after and kept safe by trained professionals if you are noticing increasing worrying symptoms. For example, if they often forget who you are, who they are, where they are when they are at home or another familiar place, what they have just done or said, or where they have put things, it could be a sign that more help is needed.
More Medical Needs
It is not uncommon for people to suffer from poorer health as they age. Many older people have health conditions and can manage them well while continuing to live at home, perhaps with the help of a home carer or visiting nurse. However, if this doesn’t seem enough for your loved one, and they are requiring more and more care due to their health issues, then it might be time to consider moving to a care home, where they can get round the clock care available on site.
Struggling to Care for Themselves
If you’ve noticed that your elderly loved one is struggling to care for themselves, for example, if they are not eating, showering, able to take themselves to the bathroom or change their own clothes, then a care home move might be needed. That being said, if your loved one wants to stay at home, a home carer might be an alternative worth considering to help them with these tasks.
While most of us want to ensure that our older relatives live happily in their own homes for as long as possible, there are some situations where a move to a care home might be needed as the best choice for their safety and health.