24-Hour Home Care Helps Seniors With Limited Mobility Stay Independent
24-hour home care helps seniors with limited mobility stay safer and independent.
If your senior parent wants to keep living in their own home but has limited mobility, 24-hour home care can help them stay safe at home.
It’s not practical for most family caregivers to move in with a senior parent, but with 24-hour home care, someone will always be there to help your parent stay safe.
If your parent’s limited mobility puts them at high risk of falling at home, around-the-clock care can help prevent a serious fall and support the independent lifestyle they want.
Having 24-hour home care is important if your parent’s home has steps, a staircase, and other hazards that could cause them to trip and fall while they are trying to get around the house. Even if your parent uses a mobility aid like a cane or walker, it’s smart to make sure a caregiver is in the house too.
How 24-Hour Home Care Helps Seniors With Limited Mobility
For seniors with limited mobility, the most dangerous times of day are when no one is typically in the home. Getting up in the morning, getting into bed at night, or trying to get down the hall to the bathroom in the middle of the night are especially dangerous.
At these times, seniors may be groggy from medications, sleepy, off-balance, and more likely to stumble or trip. If your parent has 24-hour home care, someone will be there at all hours to help them with things like:
Getting In And Out Of Bed
Getting into or out of bed can be challenging when your parent has limited mobility. They may have difficulty moving from lying to sitting, getting their feet firmly on the floor, or standing without losing their balance.
These challenges can be especially significant first thing in the morning when your parent is stiff or sleepy. They can also occur at night when your parent is tired.
With 24-hour home care, a care provider is available when your parent needs to get into or out of bed. Your parent doesn’t have to attempt a difficult transfer alone just because it’s early in the morning or late at night.
Making Late-Night Trips To The Bathroom
Trips to the bathroom can be one of the biggest safety concerns for a senior with limited mobility. Your parent may wake suddenly and try to get to the bathroom before they’re fully alert.
Poor lighting, sleepiness, medication side effects, and balance problems can make navigating the bedroom and hallway more difficult at night.
Having a care provider in the home means your parent can get assistance when they need to use the bathroom. A provider can help them get up, make sure the path is clear, and provide appropriate assistance as they move through the house.
Transferring From One Place To Another
Your parent may need assistance transferring between their bed, chair, wheelchair, toilet, or other locations throughout the day and night.
Trying to transfer without help can result in a fall if your parent’s legs give out or they lose their balance. They may also try to grab furniture or other objects that aren’t designed to support their weight.
A trained care provider can assist with transfers using the techniques and mobility equipment recommended for your parent. With someone available around the clock, your parent doesn’t have to choose between waiting for help and attempting an unsafe transfer alone.
Getting Food, Drinks, And Other Items
Your parent shouldn’t have to risk a fall just to get a glass of water, a snack, their glasses, a phone charger, or something from another room.
When your parent lives alone, they may have no choice but to get up and retrieve these things themselves. Even a short trip across the room can become dangerous when they’re tired, unsteady, or using a mobility aid.
With 24-hour home care, your parent can ask a provider to bring them what they need. A provider can also make sure water, snacks, medications, the phone, and other frequently used items are placed within easy reach before your parent settles into bed or a chair.
Responding Quickly If Something Goes Wrong
Even with precautions, accidents and unexpected situations can happen. Your parent could lose their balance, become dizzy, feel weak, or have difficulty getting up from a chair.
If your parent lives alone, they may not be able to reach a phone or summon help easily. They could potentially remain on the floor or in an uncomfortable position for a long time before anyone realizes something is wrong.
With 24-hour home care, someone is always in the home to notice when your parent needs assistance. A care provider can respond immediately, follow the appropriate safety procedures, and get additional or emergency help when necessary.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Lodi, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today at (916) 897-4752
