While phone calls, social media and Skype are great ways to stay in touch with older loved ones, they can’t compare with an in-person visit, stepping through the front door and enveloping each other in a long hug. And in-person visits can serve the additional benefit of providing an opportunity to assess your loved one’s state of wellbeing in ways that can’t be determined over the phone.

In fact, at Quality First Home Care, many of the calls we receive are from family members who have just returned from a family get-together and were concerned about some of the warning signs they noticed, and wondered if it might be time to enlist some help to ensure a senior loved one is safe and thriving.

To help family members better determine when the time is right for in-home care assistance, we’ve compiled the following checklist of red flags to be on the lookout for:

Changes in the home. If the senior has always kept an immaculate home but suddenly has a sink filled with dirty dishes, piles of unfolded clothes, and stacks of mail, newspapers, and magazines, an in-home caregiver can provide assistance with housework, laundry, and preparing meals.

Changes in appearance. Neglected personal hygiene, mismatched, inappropriate, or unclean clothing can all be remedied with personal care assistance, which includes help with bathing/showering, dressing, hair and mouth care, and more.

Isolation. Socialization is vitally important for older adults, and can become difficult when seniors no longer drive, are experiencing health concerns, or have experienced the loss of close friends and family. An in-home caregiver encourages older adults to remain socially active by engaging in conversations, games and interesting activities, as well as providing transportation and accompaniment to fun outings.

Evidence of accidents. This can include damage to the senior’s car, scorch marks on pots and pans, and personal injuries or bruising. A professional home care expert can enhance safety for seniors by assessing the home for fall risks and providing the oversight and assistance with tasks that have become difficult for an older adult to perform.

Medication management. If medications seem to be disorganized, or you suspect your loved one isn’t taking medications as prescribed, an in-home caregiver can provide medication reminders at the appropriate times, as well as run errands such as picking up prescription refills.

At Quality First Home Care, we partner with families who want to help their older loved ones live the safest, highest quality lives possible. We begin by meeting with the senior and his or her loved ones right in the comfort of home to provide a consultation and to create a highly personalized plan of care to address the particular challenges being faced, and then monitor that plan ongoing to ensure that just the right amount and type of care is provided at all times.

To learn more about our in-home care solutions for seniors, available throughout Lawrenceville, GA and the surrounding areas, contact us any time at 770-639-3976.