Seniors’ Abilities Guide Care Choices

OMAHA, Nebraska — One of the most important decisions people can make in planning for the future is about the care and assistance they will need as they age. The growth in the senior care industry has provided people with many more options to live the lifestyle they choose, including the ability to remain safe and comfortable in their own homes.

“Today, people are living longer and healthier and the senior care industry is changing in response to that trend,” said Allen Hager, Founder of Right at Home. “While not all seniors require the intensive supervision and skilled medical care of a nursing home setting, many can use assistance with one or more activities of daily living to retain their independence. Some seniors shy away from asking for help because they do not realize there are options that do not require them to leave their home.”

The National Center for Health Statistics defines activities of daily living as those related to personal care, such as dressing, bathing or showering, getting in and out of bed and eating. Instrumental activities of daily living, a more detailed measurement, describe more intensive activities related to independent living including meal preparation, shopping for groceries, paying bills and light housework. Studies have indicated that approximately 20 percent of the elderly population has difficulty with one or more of these activities.

“An honest assessment by a family member or a senior care professional of how well a senior is able to complete these activities of daily living is a good indicator of the amount of assistance he or she requires,” said Hager. “In-home or community-based services are viable options for those who have difficulty with a handful of these tasks, but don’t require round-the-clock supervision.”

Hager recommends that seniors and their families evaluate their abilities in the following areas as a first step in determining if additional supportive care is needed:

• Living area: Is it unkempt or cluttered? Is the senior becoming unable to participate in basic household chores?



• Diet and nutrition: Is there a concern the senior is not eating properly when the family is not providing meals? Are they able to get to the grocery store on a regular basis?



• Medication: Is it being taken as prescribed? Are doctors’ appointments being missed or rescheduled?



• Personal Hygiene: Is there a decline in personal hygiene of the senior? Is the senior wearing the same unclean or improperly fitting clothes day after day? Is the senior bathing regularly?



• Memory: Are there signs of confusion or short-term memory loss? Is the senior unable to remember the last time a family member saw him or her? Does the senior lose track of what they were doing during routine tasks?



• Driving: Are there signs of diminished driving ability? Have there been minor “fender benders” or other damage that can be attributed to declining sight or responsiveness?