Everybody needs a little help sometimes, and seniors tend to need more assistance as they age. In the senior care industry, you’ll often hear people refer to activities of daily living, or ADLs. Most seniors have certain ADLs in common that become more challenging to perform with age or as they develop new health conditions that interfere with their cognitive abilities and mobility. Taking a look at these common ADLs seniors need assistance with gives you a starting point for managing discussions about your aging loved one’s current and anticipated care needs.
Personal Hygiene
Bathing, brushing teeth, and performing other personal hygiene tasks do more than simply make your loved one look their best. Personal hygiene can also prevent infections and help seniors maintain their self-esteem. Seniors often have difficulty with personal hygiene tasks due to a loss of mobility that may make it challenging for them to maintain their balance on slippery floors. Or they could develop a fear of falling that makes them skip showers.
Senior care providers can help seniors bathe or simply give them reminders to brush their teeth. If your loved one cannot manage a specific aspect of maintaining their hygiene, a caregiver can also point out strategies to help. For instance, the caregiver may recommend using an ergonomic toothbrush to support a senior with limited hand movement.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Corio by Institute on Aging (IOA), a leading home care San Francisco agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
Meal Prep & Eating
If you’ve ever been too exhausted to make a meal after a long day at work, you already have an inkling of what life is like for seniors who live with debilitating fatigue and chronic pain. Some seniors need assistance with making healthy meals due to an inability to stand for long times at the stove. Seniors with memory loss may need assistance to avoid fire hazards as they cook. Your loved one could also benefit from having the emotional support of enjoying meals with a caregiver who can turn mealtimes into highly anticipated parts of their day.
Managing Restroom Needs
Seniors with incontinence may be unable to change their soiled clothing independently. Or your loved one may face difficulty maintaining their hygiene after using the toilet. Some seniors wake up throughout the night to use the restroom, which increases their fall risk. If your loved one expresses concerns about how they use the restroom, hiring an in-home caregiver can retain your loved one’s dignity while also providing the assistance they need to stay healthy.
Family caregivers sometimes need a break from their day-to-day responsibilities. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs overnight home care, Corio by IOA can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to accompany seniors to doctor’s appointments, ensure they take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
Functional Mobility
Your loved one may manage many of their ADLs once they get out of bed, but they may have difficulty with some basic aspects of their mobility. For instance, seniors who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs might need assistance moving from their beds or chairs to their devices. Or your loved one might need help moving around in public, where it’s challenging to navigate doors from a wheelchair or step over curbs. Caregivers can identify seniors’ mobility challenges and find solutions to overcome each one.
For many families, hourly home care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Corio by IOA, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home. To learn about our quality-assured services, give us a call today at (415) 750-4111.