Does My Senior Parent Need Long Term Care?
For many people, the realization that their senior parent needs long term care services may come as a shock. Oftentimes, coming to this realization elicits an urgency to transition mom or dad to long term care as soon as possible. Thus making this more emotionally challenging for both you and your loved one. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. By keeping an eye out for these signs, you can make long term care a much smoother life change for your loved one. Getting mom or dad the help they need now will help them to better enjoy life later.
Without further ado, here are the signs to look out for when deciding on long term care options for your senior parent.
Long term care will benefit mom or dad if…
- They’ve had a recent accident. Falls at home and car accidents can leave your senior parent feeling shaken, injured and unsure of themselves. Homes can easily grow more hazardous as we age and become less mobile and independent. And driving is dangerous as it is, nevermind adding vision and mobility issues to the mix. With that being said, an assisted living community that offers long term care can help greatly reduce these risks and provide intensive care that is needed after an accident.
- They’re struggling to recover from an injury or illness. Aging impacts our ability to bounce back from a hospital stay or health issue, and may further impact our loved one’s independence. Assisted living communities offering long term care have the therapists and medical professionals onsite to ensure optimal recovery support at all times.
- They have trouble performing activities of daily living (ADLs). Getting dressed, grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning are just some of the activities needed to maintain independence. If you notice your loved one is struggling to complete any of these daily tasks, they may need assistance. Assisted living communities have associates available around the clock to help with these activities. It’s important to note, this may not necessarily mean your loved one needs comprehensive long term care. However, if your loved one has trouble completing ADLS because of a possible injury or medical condition, long term care may be the best option in this case.
- They are losing weight. Significant or unexplained weight loss can be a result of anything, so it’s important to consult your loved one’s primary care physician before making assumptions. However, most of the time sudden and unusual weight loss in seniors is due to a serious health condition like cancer or diabetes. In long term care, there are medical professionals, dieticians, therapists and more available to treat limiting health conditions in seniors.
At UMC at Collingswood, long term care comprises the most intensive and highest level of care provided to our residents. Our experienced nurses, therapists and other medical professionals provide comprehensive care to residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are available at all times in case of emergency and to closely monitor and make modifications to treatment as necessary.
Some of the more common conditions treated in long term care include post-operative wounds, stroke, injuries, diabetes, invasive infections, Parkinson’s disease, and more. Whatever medical condition your senior parent has, the long term care team in Collingswood is well equipped to treat them with the utmost attention and compassion.
To find out more about long term care in Camden County NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/
