Aaron Silver, age 75 an active widowed senior with extended family supporting him socially with regular visits. Aaron regularly went for walks, ran his own errands, and cooked his own meals. Aaron, like most Elders found himself suddenly cut off and isolated from those he loved and supported him socially. Fear has set in and Aaron is now self-isolating amid signs of depression and possibly dementia. As his family started to come around again and entered his dwelling, they discovered that Aaron was not taking care of himself.
For many families it may not be clear through their facetime chats or skype calls that mom and dad are not doing as well as they wanted you to believe, such was the case with Aaron. When Aaron’s daughter was finally able to visit with her father, she discovered that he had not been eating properly and wasn’t taking care of his personal hygiene. On top of this, he seemed befuddled and confused on names, dates and places.
The move to isolation to protect this fragile community of elders has had another impact on many of them that no one had anticipated. Loneliness, leading to the onset of dementia. Human beings are social creatures and the elderly most definitely need interaction to keep their minds and bodies engaged in life. The suddenness of things changing can be a trigger that starts us down a very sorrowful road to depression and dementia among other rapid aging issues.
What Can Be Done from A Distance?
Home care is so important now, seniors that can stay in their own home surrounded by their things do so much better, but it does not stop there. Home care services like those provided by Advantage Private Home Care, allows the family to oversee and get firsthand accounts from the care provider about the status of their elder loved one. We are trained in the use of PPE and how to prevent the spread of COVID. We can check on your family members without putting them at risk unintentionally.
Elder care right now must be more than just a phone call. A trained professional has the opportunity to speak with your loved one weekly or daily depending on the need. We check on medication, on personal care, cleanliness of the home as well as providing in person interaction. These may seem like small tasks and you might think they are too simple to hire someone to do. However, they mean so much for the family to have peace of mind and for that senior to feel safe and secure in their own home.
These small acts can greatly help the mental well-being of an aging loved one. Advantage Private Home Care can be that safe connection and eyes checking in on your elder loved one. We can come in and cook a meal, do a load of laundry or just sit and talk to them about how they are feeling. All while adhering to CDC guidelines.
One day very soon, we hope to have this all behind us and families will be able to come together and care for one another in person as before. Advantage Private Home Care will still be there to assist and aid families with the care of their seniors. Call us with any questions you may have, we are always happy to assist.