 | Larry Nanny is the Administrator at Lakewood Senior Living located off of Kellogg Drive on Seville St, between Tyler and Maize Rd. He has a degree in Health Administration, and has been a Nursing Home Administrator for three years. Larry is passionate about helping people. Prior to becoming an Administrator he was a teacher at Wichita Area Technical College where he taught Horticulture. Larry also has served in the Air National Guard and was stationed near Iraq during Desert Storm were he trained arriving troops in chemical weapons warfare. In his spare time Larry likes to spend time with his family, which includes his lovely wife, and their three dogs. Larry is a certified Personal Trainer and an avid fitness enthusiast. He enjoys playing and watching sports, including football, baseball and basketball. Feel free to contact Lakewood Senior Living for assistance if you need more information on our fall prevention program or long-term care, please call (316) 722-6916. |
Senior Living
2007-07-01 16:13:00
How to help an aging loved one
How do I know when my aging relative needs help?
Answer: For many people, independence is something they fall in love with the very first time they experience it. Whether it’s a teenager left home alone for the first time or a college student finally leaving the nest, that first taste of independence can be a wonderful thing, something most people want to maintain the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, as people grow older, independence can often be a detriment to their well being, leaving their loved ones in a difficult position with respect to their care.
Deciding to put a parent or an elderly relative in a care facility is never an easy decision, as chances are that person will want to remain independent. You may also feel guilty about the decision wondering if the facility can provide the best care. To help you make the correct call, here are some things to consider:
Physical health. This is typically one of the more decisive factors in whether or not a nursing home is the right move for your loved one. Chronic disease, such as diabetes or arthritis, can greatly limit an elderly person’s independence, sometimes making it impossible for them to live on their own. If you cannot care for them adequately enough, a nursing home or another facility might be your only option. In addition, heart disease, stroke or cancer can also rob loved ones of their independence, meaning a nursing home might be the best option for sufferers of these diseases as well.
Mental health. Typically, Alzheimer’s is a chief concern for relatives of the elderly. If your loved one appears disoriented most of the time or has regular feelings of confusion, professional help might be the best decision. Also, bouts with depression or anxiety can be difficult to deal with if you’re not trained to do so. While these conditions do not mandate you put your loved one in a home, it may be necessary if someone cannot be available round-the-clock to provide care. Medication use. Pay close attention to your loved one’s medication routine. If he’s forgetting to take his medication or taking too much, or even failing to remember if he took it or not, independence is no longer a legitimate option. Too little or too much medication can prove to be a fatal mistake.
Daily living skills. While few elderly people can get up and go like they used to, exhibiting difficulty with some of the more routine tasks a day presents could be a sign that help is necessary. Struggles with bathing, dressing or even using the toilet indicate a dwindling ability to live independently. Similarly, such struggles might leave you worried about your loved one’s ability to cook and clean for themselves, which could lead to tragedy. Similar to other areas of concern, this should be looked at subjectively. If your loved one still has his mental health but might be struggling with some of the aforementioned tasks, perhaps having him move in with a younger relative or hiring someone to help him can help you avoid the nursing-home scenario. If no such support system is realistic, a home could be your best move.
Knowing when the time is right to consider moving your loved one into some type of facility is never an easy one. If you are struggling with this decision please consider some of the things mentioned in this article. These are not the only things to take into consideration. You also will need to look at safety, finances, and support systems available as well.
