While living alone ensures your mom enjoys her privacy and independence, she may also experience challenges that must be addressed as she gets older. Here are some of the best tips for staying safe while aging in place by using the help of home care aides.
1. Remain Social
If your mom’s social circle has shrunk, she can’t give up and stay home alone all day, every day. Socialization is important as a lonely, isolated lifestyle has been found to increase the chances of heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression.
Caregivers stop by and provide the companionship services your mom needs. She has someone to talk to. Her caregiver can help her run errands and join her in conversation while she eats.
2. Heighten Safety Throughout Your Mom’s Home
As she ages, your mom’s home is not as safe as it used to be. Some simple changes can heighten safety throughout her home. Consider adding brighter lighting on stairs, in hallways, and in entryways. Add grab bars in the bathroom, especially in the shower or bathtub area.
Your mom also needs to have working smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors. Consider a medical alert system that has fall detection. Working locks and deadbolts on doors and windows should also be in place, and it doesn’t hurt to have one lock that you can unlock remotely and with a numerical code if she accidentally goes outside and gets locked out.
With a caregiver there, your mom has someone around to make sure she has everything she needs to stay safe. An assessment of your mom’s home is taken care of. If she needs someone with her when going for walks or walking up and down the stairs, she has it.
3. Keep Up With Immunizations and Medical Appointments
Your mom needs to take care of herself. She should see her doctor each year and her dentist twice. If she’s behind on recommended vaccinations, she should make an appointment to get caught up. The same is true of any tests, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, that are recommended.
4. Eat Balanced Meals
As tempting as it is to stick to quick, easy meals that don’t require much preparation, your mom shouldn’t rely on takeout and frozen meals every day. A home-cooked meal is one of the best ways to have a varied diet filled with the nutrients she needs.
If she cannot cook meals for one, arrange to have a home care aide help with meal planning and preparation. Your mom’s caregiver can talk to her about what she wants to eat and make those meals for her.
5. Arrange Home Care When It’s Needed
Don’t let your mom be too proud to ask for help. If she’s struggling to keep up with laundry, housework, shopping, meals, and personal care, she needs the help of a home care aide. Hire caregivers to make sure your mom eats home-cooked meals every day, has clean sheets, towels, and clothing, and has clean and organized living areas.
If you or an aging loved one need home care in Sacramento, CA, contact A Better living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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