Deciding if, when, and where to place a loved one is often a heart-wrenching a
nd overwhelming experience.
Many family caregivers continue providing care far beyond their physical and emotional capabilities before they even consider placement as an option.
These guidelines may help that difficult decision-making process of whether or not to place a loved one in residential care.
Ask these questions about your senior:
Is their personal hygiene declining?
Are they eating properly?
Are they still able to manage their medications?
Are they frail and at risk of falling?
Are they at risk for falling victim to crime?
Are they sleeping in the day time or more than usual?
If you answer yes to one or more of these questions it is time to start talking about what appropriate placement in a senior living community can do to change the situation.
Ask these questions of a family care giver:
Do they feel their health has suffered because of tending to the needs of the senior first?
Do they feel that they will be unable to take care of the senior much longer?
Are they uncertain about what to do about the needs of the senior?
Do they feel stressed between caring for the senior and trying to meet other responsibilities for their family or work?
Are they afraid about what the future holds for the senior?
Overall, how burdened do they feel about caring for the senior?
If the answers to any of these questions is yes, they you could have a case of caregiver burn out beginning and is it time to discuss the option of placement as a healthy solution for all involved.
Call to discuss what help is available for the concerns you find when you ask these questions.
Sincerely,
Donna