Since moving away from each other, you’ve made it a point to call Mom every weekend, no matter what. After catching up on the week’s news, she always reassures you that yes, she’s eating well, taking her meds, getting plenty of rest, and doing perfectly fine.
However, seeing her in person over a long weekend vacation paints a different picture. Her once ultra clean kitchen is cluttered with newspapers and junk mail and contains a sink full of food-encrusted dishes. The refrigerator contains spoiled and expired food. And most worrisome, there’s a scorch mark on the table by the oven.
For family members living at a distance from senior loved ones, these telltale signs that Alaska home care may be needed are often only evident during in-person visits. Nora Jean Levine, executive director from Caring From a Distance, advises adult children to, 'Open your eyes. Try and really see what's going on and not what you want to be going on.' It’s important to assess both the home environment and the senior herself (for bruises that could indicate falls, signs of depression or confusion, and other personality changes). And in between visits, enlist the help of a trusted neighbor or an Aging Life Care Specialist in Anchorage to keep an eye on the senior.
Most important of all, the best way to keep seniors safe, secure, and thriving is to hire a professional Alaska home care agency, such as Midnight Sun Home Care. Providing such services as transportation, assistance with meals and housekeeping, medication reminders, and friendly companionship can make all the difference to an older adult and her adult children. Contact us today for more information!
