Elderly Care in Grand Ledge MI
Figuring out when it's time to jump in with some extra help for your elderly loved one can be nerve wracking. You don't want to step in too soon, but if you wait too long, your loved one might get hurt. Try some of these ideas for spotting the right time to ask your loved one if she needs more from you.
Watch for Sudden Changes to Behavior
If your loved one has always done certain things and then suddenly stops those activities, it's a good idea to find out why that change happened. It could be simply a change in preferences or it could be a sign that something else is going on. Be sure to talk to your loved one in a non-judgmental and loving manner to get to the root of the issue.
Watch for Inactivity or a General Slowing Down
Sometimes a loved one who has always been active and engaged suddenly doesn't seem to have much energy or seems to be slowing down a good bit. There can be health reasons for this, of course, or your loved one could be feeling stressed or depressed. If you don't see a reasonable answer for this right away, it merits investigation with a trip to your loved one's doctor.
Watch for Lack of Appetite
Anyone can periodically have a lack of appetite, but that can be dangerous for your elderly loved one. She may be experiencing side effects from her medication or from an existing health condition, but it could be something more. Your loved one may not enjoy eating alone, for example, so she simply picks at food when she's on her own. If you don't know that there's a problem, you can't even offer solutions for her.
Check for Balance Issues
Falls are extremely dangerous for your elderly loved one and you can't always predict when she'll fall. If you start to notice that she's having balance issues and is unsteady on her feet, however, you can certainly start to take precautions. Make sure that her doctor is aware and he can recommend the right course of action for you to take to make sure that your loved one is less likely to take a tumble.
You can also talk to your loved one's elder care providers about what they've noticed regarding your loved one.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Grand Ledge, MI, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Lansing. Call today: 517-332-9953.