14 VITALITY Spring 2025 Home health care: When your loved one needs extra help As your parent or other loved one ages, they might need home health care at some point. Home health care can offer peace of mind, but there’s a lot to think about when selecting it. Signs to look for Talk to your loved one about receiving assistance at home if they: Aren’t eating nutritious or regular meals. Are forgetting to do things. Don’t bathe or shower very often. Can’t prepare simple meals. Wander away from home. Forget appointments. Neglect housekeeping. Chances are, your loved one will deny the need for help. They may balk at letting a stranger into their home. Respectfully explain why you think they may no longer be safe living alone. To the extent possible, involve them in your decision-making. Home health aides A home health aide, trained through a state-approved program, provides in-home caregiving. A qualified home health aide should be able to: ● Provide companionship. ● Help with activities of daily living: bathing, showering, dressing, grooming, eating, going to the toilet and moving around the house. ● Take vital signs. ● Monitor physical and mental conditions and actions such as eating, drinking, physical activity and going to the bathroom. ● Know what to do in an emergency. ● Prepare meals. ● Do light housekeeping. Working with a home health aide It might take some time to get the in-home care process running smoothly. These tips can help. Write a care plan. This detailed plan outlines your loved one’s daily routine and states what the home health aide will do. Communicate. Schedule regular check-in meetings. Ask the caregiver to jot down observations. Review as needed: Go over tasks, equipment and emergency procedures with the aide from time to time. Focus on the essentials. A home health aide won’t be able to do everything. But if your loved one is safe and feels connected to the caregiver, that’s what really matters. Sources: AARP; Family Caregiver Alliance Is now the time for senior living? If you or a loved one needs more help than home health can provide, CMH has residential care and skilled nursing facilities to meet your needs. Complete a quick, 4- to 5-minute survey at bit.ly/ CMHCareOptions to learn more about your options and decide the best fit for your care needs. Getting started To learn more about CMH Home Health Services, call 417-326-3585 or 800-955-3493 or visit citizensmemorial.com.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTI0MzU=