Your mom wants to stay in her home, but she’s getting older and has a harder time with certain aspects of daily living. You’re starting to wonder if it’s time for paid caregivers to help out. How can home care help your mom each week?
Bathing, Hygiene, and Grooming
Taking a shower is one area where your mom isn’t confident anymore. She fell stepping out of the tub, and that increased her fear. She’d rather have someone support her while she gets into and out of the tub. Her caregiver is there for support.
If your mom needs help washing her hair or body and drying off, that’s an option. Her caregiver can trim the nails on your mom’s fingers and toes. She can have her caregiver help apply skin cream to hard-to-reach areas.
Housekeeping and Laundry
Is your mom able to keep her home clean and organized? If not, she can have a caregiver around to vacuum the carpets, sweep hardwood floors, dust furnishings, and do the dishes. Her caregiver can wipe and sanitize surfaces and tidy up clutter.
With a caregiver’s help each week, your mom’s sheets are changed and washed. Her dirty clothing is washed and dried. Towels are changed and laundered. Everything is dried, folded, and put away before the caregiver leaves for the day.
Your mom’s caregiver can also help with oral care, toileting, shaving, and hair care. As she has a caregiver there to help her brush and dry her hair, making it easier for her to start her day.
Meals and Snacks
Your mom’s caregiver can prepare meals and snacks for her. She can talk to her caregiver about the foods she wants throughout the week. Her caregiver can take her shopping, if needed, and prepare those meals and snacks for her when it’s time.
Does your mom hate eating alone? If so, ask the home care agency about companionship during meals. Your mom can have her caregiver eat with her or sit with her while she eats to ensure she’s never alone during a meal.
Socialization
Your mom’s caregivers provide the friendship she needs. She can socialize with her caregivers while engaging in a favorite hobby, going on outings to stores and area attractions, or while playing games.
Your mom loves to garden, but she has a hard time carrying her tools and any ripe produce. With a caregiver helping out, your mom is social and engaged with others.
Transportation
Your mom no longer drives, but that doesn’t mean she’s stuck at home. Hire a caregiver to take her shopping or when running errands. Her caregiver can bring her to her medical or therapy appointments.
Hold a family meeting to narrow down where your mom does well independently and where she could use help. Once you have an idea of the services that would help her, call a home care specialist to make arrangements.