Your dad is getting older, and you worry about him living alone. He insists he doesn’t want to move to a smaller home or new community. He wants to age in place. You want to make that happen for him, but you worry about him being alone. Maybe it’s time to consider home care services for him so that his needs are met.
Ask Him What He Needs for Help
When it comes to daily routines, what can your dad do independently? Where does he struggle? These are good questions to discuss and come up with a list of the areas where he would appreciate having some help.
He might be walking to the corner store, but he isn’t comfortable driving to the larger grocery store a few miles away. He can heat something in the microwave, but he cannot cook a full meal on the stove or in the oven.
Does your dad have a hard time with personal care? How about laundry, housework, and bill paying? These are all services from a home care agency that might benefit your dad.
Consider How Much Help You Can Offer
How much availability do you have? If you can help out now and then, that is a start. But, you need to make sure he has the help he needs when you’re not available.
As you discuss what help he needs, create a schedule in an online calendar. Your siblings could view it, see where your dad is alone, and offer to help out. With a shared calendar, it’s easy to view what’s covered and where there are gaps.
Perform a Safety Assessment
Perform a safety assessment of your dad’s home and make any needed changes. Some of the areas to address are the lighting in his entryway, stairs, and main living areas. If there are dimly lit areas, there is a higher risk of your dad bumping into things or tripping.
His bathroom needs to have grab bars near the toilet and inside and outside of the shower stall or bathtub. If he slips, he has something to hold for support. It can keep him from falling in the bathroom that’s smaller and filled with hard surfaces.
Go through your dad’s home and check for other trip hazards. Are there any cables in the way of a walking path? Is carpeting on the stairs or in rooms loose or torn? If it is torn and curling up, he could catch his toes on it and fall.
Tile flooring shouldn’t be cracked or loose, Wood flooring shouldn’t be warped and jutting up in areas. If he has vision issues, make sure changes in height are marked with tape that alerts him to the step-down or step-up.
Home care services help your dad maintain his independence without risking his safety. Talk to our expert in home care to arrange the services your dad needs and the prices for those services.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Wasco CA please contact the caring staff at Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care. Call (661) 412-9730.
Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Bakersfield, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Lamont, Arvin, Taft, Tehachapi, Frazier Park, McFarland, and surrounding areas.
Purpose Driven Home Health & Home Care provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Bakersfield, Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Lamont, Arvin, Taft, Tehachapi, Frazier Park, McFarland, and surrounding areas.
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