What Is Your Senior’s Living Space Telling You?

Senior Care Arlington Heights Il - What Is Your Senior’s Living Space Telling You?

Your senior’s living space can tell you a lot about what’s going on with her, even when she’s reluctant to share the same information. As a caregiver, you’ll find yourself looking for clues to help you understand what your elderly family member needs and how to best help her.  

Lots of Little Things Haven’t Been Handled  

Whether your senior owns her home, lives in an apartment, or has some other arrangement, there’s some sort of maintenance that needs to happen on a regular basis. Some of that may be things she’s been handling on her own, but if you’ve noticed that’s falling by the wayside, there might be other issues. Look for simple maintenance that is really important, like light bulbs that have burned out. When those are in easy locations to change, it doesn’t make sense for them to be ignored unless there’s something else going on with your elderly family member. 

Cleanliness Is a Problem 

You have a good idea how clean your elderly family member’s home has always been. If her standards are slipping now, that might be because she’s unable to keep up with those standards with her current health issues. Talk to her about what might be happening and whether you or senior care providers can pick up the slack for her. If she’s open to that solution, she can take that energy and put it toward activities that she’ll enjoy a good bit more. 

Odd Smells Are Another Problem 

Odd smells are a combination problem. They can show up with maintenance issues, like leaks behind walls or appliances that aren’t working properly. But they can also be an indication that there are cleaning problems. If your senior has been stockpiling food in the freezer for instance, it can still go bad over a long period of time. It can eventually create a stench that won’t be solved until that freezer is cleaned out. There may be other similar causes around your senior’s home that need deeper investigating. 

Your senior might not be willing to accept your help, but if she’s facing these issues, she needs help from someone. Very often aging adults are more willing to accept assistance from senior care providers. They might worry that family members will be more judgmental or will be more willing to make them move. Look for answers that help your senior without creating anxiety or hard feelings. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering  Senior Care Services in Arlington Heights IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

---