It’s difficult, sometimes, to know when the moment has come to ask for outside help.
January has finally arrived and as the days slowly become longer and lighter we often find ourselves planning for the new year ahead. For many this future planning is accompanied by the difficult realization that a loved one is struggling with activities of day-to-day life. The challenges that accompany aging-at-home, or recovery after an illness, or injury, or living with a chronic condition may have worsened over the previous year to the point that safety and wellness have become compromised. Additional homecare support that addresses vital health needs might be required to rebuild a loved ones’ strength and stamina or to enhance their comfort, overall wellness, and autonomy.
Consider that homecare may be beneficial if you, or loved one, are
- Recovering from an illness or injury that has compromised your overall health. Receiving timely support early on in a healing journey may help to promote recovery.
- Struggling with daily tasks. Reducing the overall burden of domestic chores, and the sense of overwhelm that may accompany these burdens, can free up time to do more of the things you love to do.
- Experiencing changes in gait or balance. As we age, we are more at risk for falls, and falls have increasingly serious consequences that may lead to a reduction in mobility or independence. Homecare services can help monitor changes in gait or foot health, address environmental hazards in the home, and support active living and adherence to strength and balance training programs.
- Having trouble managing medications or meeting nutritional needs. Having extra support in these critical areas can help prevent more serious complications that may arise from poor nutrition, or medication error.
- Are experiencing confusion, memory loss, or out of character mood swings—all cognitive issues that are all exacerbated by stress. Supportive homecare intervention can help to reduce overall stress thus preventing or delaying the worsening of these symptoms. Homecare support can also aid in monitoring, and alerting family members or healthcare teams, if there are any significant changes in cognition.
- Becoming lonely or isolated. Year-round social isolation increases risk factors for depression, dementia, and mortality rates. Homecare support provides routine visits, with time for a cup of tea, or a chat, or a visit to the garden. Homecare support can also facilitate making, and keeping, priority social engagements—volunteering at a local thrift store, a walking club, a bridge game, aquatic movement classes—that are important to an individual’s sense of community engagement.
For many, the prospect of requiring the additional support of homecare—either in the short- or long-term—may provoke a wide range of complex, contradictory, or difficult emotions. Confronting vulnerabilities can be daunting and the idea of requiring care may be equated with relinquishing one’s independence and privacy.
It’s difficult, sometimes, to know when the moment has come to ask for outside help.
At Stay at Home Nursing, we have extensive experience supporting families through these conversations, providing guidance and sharing strategies for addressing your concerns. Sometimes, a simple conversation with our team can make a world of difference in navigating this sensitive transition. A free care consultation is often the best way to begin your homecare journey. During this no-obligation session, a nurse or care consultant will help identify your or your loved one’s specific needs. This process involves discussing health conditions, daily routines, personal goals, and funding options in order to develop a tailored care plan. At Stay at Home Nursing, we use this opportunity to ensure every client’s care aligns with their unique circumstances and preferences.
