|
|
|
Helpful Topics
How do we know when a Senior needs help?
Quite often it's an accident or an unexpected event that leads to the realization that a senior needs help. Many times a family member or concerned neighbour may first realize that a senior is living at risk. They may observe:
(1) intentional withholding of basic necessities or care (active neglect);
(2) not providing basic necessities or care because of lack of experience, information, or ability; (passive neglect);
(3) a senior unable to care for themselves either through lifestyle choice, depression, ill health and/or cognitive inability to care for the self (self neglect).
Things to take into consideration are:
#1: Safety: Is the senior at risk of injury to themselves or to others? We are not always the best judge of our own limitations and occasionally we all require another's perspective to help us recognize realistic boundaries. Kind, supportive and objective counsel is required.
Often the solution may be as simple as having a companion accompany the senior to appointments. Other more serious situations may require a greater level of help for those living with the onset or advancement of Dementia.
#2: Prognosis: Many seniors have chronic, degenerative, debilitating diseases which make life difficult to manage on their own. Arthritis can make opening a can of soup next to impossible or a Parkinson's flare-up make movement extremely difficult. Now is the time to think about the future; to plan for the added help that will allow a senior to live successfully at home while maintaining their dignity and quality of life.
#3: Personal Choice: One of the most important questions is: What does a senior want for themselves? If the senior has expressed a desire to remain in their own home, Shylo can help that dream become a reality. There are few situations which stop a person from staying in their own home until the end. All too often a senior is plucked from familiar surroundings and transferred to a Long Term Care facility simply because no one looked into Home Care options.
What do we do first?
Once it is identified that a senior does need assistance, it is always a good idea to investigate all the Home Health Care options available. Shylo suggests you begin with an assessment by the local Regional Health Unit. As part of the free assessment, the Health Unit's caseworker visits the home and evaluates the senior and their current living situation. The caseworker will consider medical issues, available support systems, finances and the senior's expressed desires regarding their own care needs.
Once the assessment is complete, the caseworker will then report how much Government assistance the senior qualifies for and may receive. If the assistance offered is considered insufficient to meet the senior's needs, you may wish to contact Shylo Nursing to supplement that care. We often work in conjunction with Government Services and/or other agencies to ensure that seniors receive as much help as they require.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|