Senior Care: Finding The Right Fit For Mom Or Dad

7 April 2015
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There are a lot of different types of senior care services out there. It can be tough trying to find the perfect fit for your aging parent or parents. So, just how do you find the type of service you need, and then find the perfect caregiver for your loved one? 

Identify Level of Care Needed

The first thing you need to do is really identify what level of care your parent or parents need. Find a pen and a notebook and jot down the issues that your loved one has on a day to day basis. Make categories of mild, problematic, and serious. List each item on your list under the appropriate category. For instance, does your loved one have issues with 

  • Remembering 
  • Mobility
  • Dressing
  • Cooking
  • Safety
  • Toileting
  • Driving

These are just a few of the problems that can come with age. It's important to be really honest with yourself about the level of attention your parent needs. Forgetting to turn off the stove is a big deal because it could lead to tragedy, but forgetting to wear socks isn't the end of the world. 

Tailor Your List

Now that you have the facts in front of you, really consider each item on your list. Do you feel comfortable leaving your loved one alone for an extended period of time? Does your loved one need help with cooking and cleaning, but seem to do great with everything else? Tailor your list to your specific situation. If a great deal of your list is in the serious category, that could indicate that your loved one needs assistance most of the time.

Home Care or Assisted Living?

If your loved one does need constant care, is that something that can be accomplished at home? Often, unless a serious injury or well developed disease like Alzheimer's is present, the responsibility of caring for an aging parent can be handled at home with part-time or full-time home care services. Two studies show that seniors in housing facilities for long term care have greater rates of depression and in some cases, suicide. Keeping seniors at home for as long as possible is often the best course of action for their overall mental, spiritual and physical well-being.

If you do decide to keep your parent at home, finding the ideal home care services is important for success. When considering your options, such as ComForcare Home Care - Glendale, CA, it's important to find a home care service that can adequately fill your personal needs, providing the best possible care for your loved one.