Helping Aging Loved Ones Avoid Hospitalizations

As people age, they often lose the ability to live safely at home. They many times need constant care that is provided by either their loved ones or hired nurses and in-home caregivers.

When you want to help an aging loved one avoid going into a nursing home, you might wonder what your options are for providing safe, gentle, and attentive care in that person’s home. With in-home nursing services, personal care assistants, and home health care bethesda maryland relatives like you can ensure your aging loved ones get the attention they need to their daily medical needs.

Help with Medication

One of the biggest challenges that senior citizens face while living alone at home involves remembering to take their medications on time. Even with alarms set on their watches or cell phones, these individuals sometimes forget to take medicines they need to keep them alive and healthy.

When you worry about your own aging loved one forgetting to take his or her medications, you may want to hire someone to come in and give this medicine to this relative. The at-home healthcare worker can arrive at a certain time each day and then administer the medication as it is prescribed. He or she can also stay there for several hours afterward to make sure the medication is not having an adverse effect on the person.

Help with Everyday Tasks

Another challenge that seniors face living at home alone involves taking care of everyday routine tasks like taking a shower or getting dressed. Many times, age-related conditions like arthritis and diabetes robs a person of his or her ability to carry out these tasks. They need someone to help them with them.

A home-based nurse can come in and help the aging loved one take a shower, get dressed, cook, and take care of other routine matters. The person can retain much of his or her dignity and avoid falling into a state of uncleanliness and hunger. In some instances, the nurse or caretaker may also be able to drive this person to his or her doctor’s appointments if you cannot take time off from work.