Your senior may want to remain independent so badly that she starts to make some choices that directly impact her ability to stay independent. Understanding what she’s doing and what might cause her to lose her independence can help you both to turn things around before your elderly family member has an experience that she can’t turn around. It’s all about keeping your senior as safe as possible so she’s able to enjoy her life on her own terms.
Dangers in Her Home
Hazards in your elderly family member’s home can cause some serious injuries that might land her in the hospital or rehabilitation center. These could be things like slippery flooring, unsafe bathrooms, or a lot of clutter. It’s worth taking the time to go through your elderly family member’s home to determine if there are any ways you can help her to make her home safer for her.
Not Using Assistive Tools
If your aging family member has been told she needs to use assistive tools like a cane, those tools don’t help if she doesn’t actually use them. It’s not uncommon at all for seniors to be resistant to the idea of using those devices. Your elderly family member might have a lot of reasons for that, including not wanting to feel old or infirm. But her safety is a bigger concern. Senior home care providers can help your elderly family member with mobility, keeping her active and safe at the same time.
Refusing to Exercise
Did your senior’s doctor tell her to get started exercising? If she didn’t go along with that idea, she might be losing muscle tone a lot faster than she expected she would. She may also find that she doesn’t have as much balance or flexibility as she really needs. These issues can all lead to big safety problems, including falls, and that can drastically impact your senior’s ability to remain independent.
Iffy Choices about Her Health
Your elderly family member could also be making some other choices about her health that don’t serve her well now or in the future. Doing things like relying on unhealthy foods rather than cooking just sabotage her health and can lead to her experiencing bigger health problems sooner rather than later. Senior home care professionals can make eating healthier and adopting other healthy choices a lot easier for your senior.
Driving Is Dangerous
If your elderly family member isn’t safe to drive, she might feel trapped at home. One option to consider is having home care providers handle the driving for her. She’ll still be able to go wherever she wants to go, but you’ll know that she’s doing so safely because caregivers are driving. The entire conversation about driving can be a complicated one, so it’s a topic you’ll want to approach carefully.
Independence does not have to mean that your elderly family member is doing everything on her own. That’s a common misconception, and it’s one that senior home care professionals can help your elderly family member to turn on its head.
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Livingston, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Adult Alternative Home Care today. (888) 664-1769
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