Live-in care is a beneficial alternative to care homes. Not only is the option of a live-in caregiver more affordable than putting your loved one in a care home, but the elderly patient will also benefit from being able to remain within the comfort of their own home. The elderly patient will continue their daily routines without having to adjust to the massive change of moving to a care home and conforming to a completely different daily schedule. If you are wondering things like ‘what is live-in care?’ and ‘what is the difference between live-in care and care home?’ then minimal research will help you determine that live-in care is cheaper, more beneficial, and helps patients avoid loneliness and depression that is often associated with pensioners.
With your next pressing question probably being, ‘is it the right time to consider live-in care for my loved one?’ below we have listed these tell-tale signs that it is probably time you should hire a live-in caregiver for your senior loved one.
Daily chores have become a struggle
Most ageing seniors like having the sense of being able to manage their daily tasks and responsibilities on their own. While independence is essential, if you notice a sudden decline in your loved one’s ability to complete daily tasks, it is likely time to consider live-in care. A live-in caregiver will assist with domestic tasks that the patient can no longer manage.
Wandering
Wandering is a definite sign that it’s time for round-the-clock care as it is a telling symptom of dementia. However, dementia is a stand-alone cause of wandering. While you should definitely take your loved one to a doctor to determine a diagnosis, you should also consider live-in care as wandering can be a danger for your loved one if they go out on their own in a confused state.
A decline in appetite and physical well-being
If you’ve noticed that your loved one is losing weight rapidly, no longer has an appetite, and their physical wellbeing is declining; as a result, live-in care is a plausible solution. There are many causes of appetite loss, and inadequate nutrition can lead to various health problems. With live-in care, at this stage, you can ensure your loved one is eating regularly, and you may even see improvements in their general physical wellbeing from then on.
Memory loss and signs of mental degradation
Looking after our mental health is essential for both young and old, and because seniors are more prone to experiencing loneliness that can then spiral into depression, their mental health care is even more crucial. Memory loss is another sign of dementia and other age-related conditions that can be hazardous. So if you have noticed that your senior loved one seem to be getting quite forgetful and shows any other signs of mental degradation, it is time to hire live-in care.
Trouble sleeping
Lack of sleep is a massive problem worldwide for people of all ages. However, the elderly are more prone to experiencing sleep troubles as they could be in pain, have dementia, or other conditions affecting sleep quality. A live-in caregiver will assist with any night-time troubles and ensure that your senior loved one will receive all the love, care, and assistance that they need.
Live-in care is an excellent alternative to expensive care homes because caregivers often become dear friends to senior patients by offering companionship, so it is much less likely that loneliness and depression would be a concern, and it leaves you with peace of mind knowing they aren’t on their own and receiving relevant care.
Ellen Diamond did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.
