Your mom is getting older, and you’re not sure what her plans are as her abilities and needs change. It’s time to sit down and ask her these questions about her future and how elder care can play a role.
Where Does She See Herself Living in 5, 10, 15 Years?
Where does your mom want to live? Are her plans to live in the home she’s currently in? Has she always planned to downsize from the large family home to a smaller, one-level home?
If she wants to live in her current home, is it set up for aging in place? Would she have to climb stairs to get to a bedroom and bathroom? Where is the laundry room? Does she have a lot of stairs to exit the house in an emergency?
Does She Have Legal Protections in Place?
What legal measures has your mom taken to protect her interests? Does she have a will? Has she named people to be her agent on medical, financial, and legal decisions on a power of attorney? She should also have an advance directive on file so that her doctors know what she would and wouldn’t want for care.
How Is Her Health?
Does your mom have any health issues you should be aware of? You’ll likely know if she has something like Alzheimer’s, heart disease, or a stroke, especially if you have HIPAA permissions and can talk to her doctors and nurses. Would you know if she’s been diagnosed with other health issues like anemia, high cholesterol, or fatty liver disease?
Make sure you know what health issues she has. You must know what’s going on when you arrange her care plan. It’s also important for you to know so that you can get tested. The earlier some health conditions are discovered, the easier it is to treat them.
Is She Caught Up on Appointments and Screenings?
Is your mom up-to-date on all of her appointments? During the pandemic, many older adults stopped going to the doctor. In some areas, there’s a shortage of medical providers so the wait to see eye doctors, dentists, dermatologists, etc. is long.
If she’s not caught up, get her on the waitlist or make necessary appointments. She may be due to vaccinations like shingles or pneumococcal and screenings like a mammogram and colonoscopy. Make sure she gets these taken care of.
What Are Her Plans if Something Happens?
What changes if your mom has a health issue? If she had a stroke, is her home still suitable? Who does she see providing the care she needs? Would she expect her children to chip in, or is she uncomfortable letting her family members help her with intimate care needs?
Your mom may feel more comfortable having her family there for visits and socialization, but she’d rather have an elder care aide around for grooming and hygiene. Make sure you know her preferences. Knowing what your mom needs and wants makes it much easier to arrange the best elder care services.
If you are considering elder care in Memorial, TX for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
At Your Side Home Care, provides exceptional home care for seniors and families in Houston, West Houston, Katy, Memorial, The Heights, Spring Valley, Garden Oaks, Hunters Creek, River Oaks, Hilshire Village, Galleria, Cinco Ranch, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenburg, Piney Point, Bay City and surrounding areas.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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