3 Signs Your Elderly Loved One May Need Skilled Nursing Care
It’s never easy to care for an aging loved one as their health declines. Unfortunately, many family members of seniors don’t have the skills to keep up with their loved one’s medical needs.
In skilled nursing care provided by assisted living or retirement homes, your loved one is in the best hands possible. Here are some of the signs that your loved one needs more advanced medical care.
1. They Have Trouble with Basic Tasks
As your loved one gets older, they may have several medical problems that make daily life difficult. Basic tasks like hygiene, grooming, and cooking may be challenging.
This usually happens because of physical or cognitive decline. No matter which one applies to your loved one, if they start having these issues, it’s time for skilled nursing care.
Skilled nursing care provides your loved one with assistance for every daily task. This includes bathing, showering, personal grooming, and keeping their living space clean.
2. Their Current Caregiver Is Burnt Out
It’s common for family members to take over the care of an aging loved one in the family. However, without extensive training and education, caregivers easily become burnt out.
Burnout is a serious problem that caregivers of all kinds face, especially those caring for seniors. There are many complex medical and mental health problems involved with senior care. Family members without medical knowledge or training should not be expected to handle these perfectly.
In addition, caregiver burnout can lead to serious safety risks for both the caregiver and your loved one. If you notice that the family member caring for your loved one is irritable, depressed, or otherwise “off,” it’s time for skilled nursing care.
In assisted living and retirement homes, nurses work in shifts to care for your loved one. They get time to recharge so that their caregiving skills remain top-notch.
3. They Have Trouble Taking Their Medications
Medication is an important part of senior health management. If your loved one struggles to remember their daily medications, it may be time to consider senior living.
Many health conditions affect elderly people and require medication to stay under control. Diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure are just a few. Without taking their medication properly, your loved one could be at serious risk of complications.
Some aging adults have trouble with memory, swallowing, and fine motor skills. All of these problems can make taking medication more difficult.
In assisted living and retirement homes, nurses manage medication so that your loved one will always get the proper dose of their medications on time.
Senior Living: Seek the Skilled Nursing Care Your Loved One Needs
There is no shame in seeking out senior living services for your loved one. They deserve the best possible quality of life, and skilled nursing care can help ease the challenges that come with aging.