You should always know that it’s a privilege to watch your loved ones get older, even if it can also feel like a challenge at times as well. You’re lucky to have them around, but of course, their needs and abilities will change, and it’s crucial to know exactly when the time has come for them to move to a care home. This can be a hard decision, but if it is the correct thing to do, it’s a decision you’ll have to make. If you’re not completely sure what to do, there are some signs to look out for that will help you to know whether or not a care home would be the right place for an older loved one to live; here are listed some of these signs below to help you understand more.
Declining Physical Health
If your loved one’s physical health worsens, it could be a sign that they need more care than you can offer them at home. These health problems could include mobility issues, frequent falls, or even challenges with personal hygiene. All of these things (and plenty more – anything linked to poor physical health should be considered) are signs that your loved one’s safety and wellbeing might be better if they move to a great care home such as Belmont Castle Care Home.
As we get older, our health will probably get worse, but there are many things we can do, such as eating well, exercising, and socializing, that will help us stay healthier. Living alone and with poor health means that these things can be hard to achieve, whereas living in a care home means these things are taken care of. It makes a lot of sense for this move to happen if physical health is an issue.
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Cognitive Impairment
As you age, your physical health will start to decline, but your mental health might do the same. This could be minimal and just a symptom of aging, but it could be much more serious and be a condition like Alzheimer’s or dementia. If it is the latter, extra help will certainly be needed to help keep your loved one safe and secure. Still, even a small amount of cognitive decline can make seemingly simple tasks like managing money and taking medication much more difficult.
This is where a care home can come in. If your loved one suffers from cognitive impairment, living in a care home means they will be safe, and their needs will be seen to. You won’t have to worry anymore that they are harming themselves by forgetting important things, and they can focus on enjoying life without any stress or responsibilities.
Carer Burnout
Carer burnout is another sign that people don’t want to talk about too much. If you are looking after an older relative and they have a lot of complex needs, or you have a job or family, you could suffer from carer burnout and become sick yourself. When this happens, you won’t be able to take care of anyone, and everyone involved could suffer.
If you have reached this stage, it’s clear that your relative needs more help than you can offer. This is nothing to be worried about or ashamed of, and finding a great care home means that everyone can be happy and healthy – it’s the correct thing to do in many situations when the carer is unwell.
