Touching Hearts at Home Senior Spotlight: Holiday Health & Safety

Holiday Health: How to Notice the Signs of Declining Health for Your Aging Loved Ones

Holidays are a great time to reconnect with loved ones and for many, visiting with or checking-in on aging loved ones.

Below are just a few health & safety tips and signs to look for:

Senior Care Gainesville FL - Touching Hearts at Home Senior Spotlight: Holiday Health & Safety
Senior Care Gainesville FL – Touching Hearts at Home Senior Spotlight: Holiday Health & Safety

• Mobility Issues – Does your senior have touble moving around (or are they MUCH slower than normal?), getting up, sitting down, going to bed, are they limping? Does your loved one have a tough time standing or balancing? Are they bruised from falls or accidents in the home?
• Weight Loss – Rapid weight loss can be an indication of malnutrition and poor nourishment. Could it be that your loved one is forgetting to eat meals or possibly have trouble and anxiety/fear about accessing food?
• Emotional Behavior Changes – Is your loved one suddenly depressed, saddened, grumpy – more than usual? Check their medications and try to talk to them about their feelings. Call for professional help if you have any concerns.
• Hearing, Vision & Memory Problems – You’ll know if your senior is having problems with sight and sound and can make arrangements to see a doctor for a hearing or vision exam. If they are forgetting a lot more things than usual and repeating themselves quite a bit, you should get an evaluation for Alzheimer’s / Dementia.
• Check Their Home For Signs and Safety Issues – It’s important to safeguard the home for any potential hazards such as chords, dark rooms and hallways, area rugs, etc. Also, be sure to look for messes (overflowing garbage, dirty dishes, accidents on the floor), extreme hoarding, expired foods – these are all signs that they may not be able to take care of themselves and the home like they once could.

If your loved one needs help with activities of daily living — during the holidays and throughout the year — there’s no greater gift you can give them & your family than the security and peace of mind of knowing your senior is being safely cared for in their own home – or wherever it is that they call home (nursing home, skilled nursing facility, hospital, etc). Call us today at (352) 225-3727 to schedule your complimentary consultation so our professional CareTeam can provide exceptional personalized care.

If you are considering Senior Care Services in Gainesville FL, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts Home Care. Call today: 352-225-3727.

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