Many loved ones would prefer to let seniors stay in their own homes as they get older rather than move them into assisted living or nursing homes. This makes sense, as aging in place provides security, freedom, and familiarity. However, for this to occur, seniors might need extra care to meet their health needs, including skilled nursing care providers. Determining when to add skilled nursing care to seniors who are aging in place can be difficult, but if loved ones pay attention to the signs below, they can gain confidence that they are doing all they can to ensure their loved ones have the support they need.
What Signs Indicate a Need for Skilled Nursing Care While Aging in Place?
It’s important to understand that each situation is different, but by being an active part of the senior’s support team, loved ones can easily identify when skilled nursing care might need to be added to the overall plan.
Some of the signs to watch for include:
Changes in Physical Health: Pay attention to any notable modifications in the physical well-being of your loved one. This includes problems with mobility, challenges carrying out regular tasks like cooking, cleaning, or bathing, and long-term medical conditions that need constant care. It might be time to think about home care and skilled nursing care if their medical needs are greater than what you or other family members can handle at home.
Cognitive Decline: Memory loss, disorientation, or trouble making decisions are examples of cognitive decline that may signal a need for increased assistance in the home. To maintain safety and appropriate medication management, conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease frequently call for skilled nursing supervision and support.
Medication Management: Speaking of medication management, as seniors get older, they frequently need to take several medications to manage different medical issues. Skilled nursing care aides can make sure they receive the right medications at the right time, reducing the risk of forgetting medications or taking too much or too little.
Social Isolation: Seniors’ physical and mental health may suffer as a result of loneliness and social isolation. With home care in place, their chances for socialization increase. Additionally, caregivers can encourage seniors to stay active, even if it’s just walking around the block.
Family Caregiver Burnout: Taking care of seniors can be challenging, especially if loved ones don’t live nearby or have a variety of other tasks they need to attend to. By adding home care, or skilled nursing care, to the support team, they get a much-needed break as well as peace of mind that their loved one is being cared for appropriately.
Expert Evaluation: Speaking with medical experts, such as physicians, can provide insightful information about the level of care your loved one requires. To assess whether skilled nursing should be added to seniors’ aging in place plan, these professionals can evaluate seniors’ functional abilities, safety risks, and current state of health.
Adding services like skilled nursing care to seniors’ aging in place plan ensures they’re getting the care they need while continuing to be able to live comfortably in their homes. Loved ones can assess the need for this addition by considering the above-mentioned items as well as talking with the medical team.
Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place/aging-place-growing-older-home
https://askchapter.org/magazine/happy-retirement-tips/home/aging-in-place-guide
If you or an aging loved one are considering Skilled Nursing Care Services in Queens County NY, please get in touch with the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and in NYC including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stonybrook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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