Senior Care

Senior care or elder care is a specialized care service designed for seniors or older adults. The care varies for each individual in various stages depending on their health and need for assistance. These services range from different facilities and departments of health depending on the condition of the senior. For example, if the elder is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, the individual may need to receive memory care as a senior care service. 

Seniors refer to services when they experience difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL’s). ADLs include bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning, toileting, etc. A basic decline in health raises the issue of care for the elderly and possibly their need for services needed by the elderly and provided to individuals.  It is vital to acknowledge that age is not the dependent cause of transferring to senior services, but rather the safety and health of the senior during various physical limitations that require the discussion. However, the condition and severity of the health can make the senior dependent on elder care services.  An example of a basic decline for an elder can be if they are gradually losing their eyesight which may cause the risk of having an incident or a fall. The individual may need assistance to transport or receive supervision from a family or a caregiver to help ensure they can move safely around their home. 

It is the family and doctor who first recognize the need for senior care services. When receiving the services, it is essential to note the progress of the individual and recognize dangers or warnings that may arise. These warnings may be signs that the senior may need to receive outside help; the signs can involve physical, cognitive, or emotional problems. Physical problems may refer to if they have difficulty ambulating, such as walking, getting in or out of bed, and relying on a gait belt. Chronic health conditions, sensory problems such as loss of hearing, seeing, tasting, etc., and long or short-term physical limitations can be warnings.  Cognitive problems include confusion, memory loss, speech difficulty, dementia, or a short attention span. Emotional problems include depression, social withdrawal, loneliness or isolation, changes in personality such as mood swings, and loss of interest.