A few years ago, I realized that my dad needed to move into a care facility instead of living with us. He was always depressed and he needed to be around more people his own age. It was a really difficult decision, but after we moved him into a care facility, he really blossomed. It was great to see him happy, healthy, and enjoying things on his own. This blog is here to help other people to enjoy their own lives and to care for loved ones who need special assistance. I know that with the help of assisted living, everyone can enjoy a better life.
Improving Your Loved One's Nursing Home Experience
Is Your Elderly Parent Showing These Signs Of Loneliness? Hiring A Home Health Aide Can Help
Nora Jones
People hire home health aides for their elderly parents for a number of different reasons. If your parent has trouble with tasks such as bathing or taking medication, for example, but still wants to live independently, a daily visit from a home health aide can reduce the amount of time that you stress over the care of your parent. It can also be worthwhile to think about hiring a home health aide if your parent is showing signs of being lonely. While this health professional is a caregiver rather than a typical companion, there's little question that his or her daily visits to your parent can be the highlight of your parent's day. If your parent isn't outwardly telling you that he or she is lonely, watch for these signs.
Your Parent Calls You More Than Is Necessary
It's not a big concern if your elderly, independent-living parent calls you once per day. He or she might wish to touch base and let you know that he or she is doing well or perhaps hear about your life and see how your children are doing. Repeated calls, however, can suggest that your parent is lonely. If he or she doesn't have many friends who visit or call, you can become the main point of contact. If you hire a home health aide to help your parent in a variety of ways as well as provide a physical presence to alleviate loneliness, you may notice a decrease in these phone calls.
Your Parent Is On Anti-Depression Medication
Loneliness is a reason that some senior citizens are prescribed anti-depression medication by their doctors. Following the passing of a spouse, for example, your parent may experience a high degree of loneliness and depression. These feelings can be compounded by the death of some of your parent's peers as well as a lack of mobility if he or she has stopped driving. You might find that your parent's depression symptoms can begin to lift as a result of daily visits from a home health aide.
Your Parent Is Gaining Weight
While weight gain can occur for several reasons, there's a definite link between gaining weight and depression. If your parent is lonely and bored, he or she might drown those sorrows with unhealthy food. This can especially be the case if the spouse who did most of the cooking has passed away, leaving your surviving parent turning to high-calorie prepared foods. A home health aide can help in multiple ways here — in addition to providing company to alleviate the loneliness, the aide can also ensure that your parent eats healthy meals.
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