Do you know that nearly 1 in 5 seniors in the US struggle with daily activities, such as bathing and eating? While we all need a little help as we get older, an inability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) can severely impact a person’s physical and emotional well-being and overall quality of life.
Professional at-home personal care in McLean from Nurse Next Door McLean bridges the gap between ability and need, allowing you or your loved one to stay as independent as possible while aging in place with dignity. In this article, we’ll discuss how professional caregivers can assist seniors with various daily activities.
Common Daily Activities
A senior’s ability to perform ADLs is an essential measure of their functional status. At the same time, the inability to do so may lead to unsafe living conditions and a poor quality of life. Consider finding the right personal care assistant for the following daily activities:
1- Bathing, Dressing, and Personal Hygiene
A study revealed that 9.4% of middle-aged adults and seniors in the US faced limitations in dressing. People with age-related conditions, such as arthritis or a stroke, may have problems holding a hairbrush or toothbrush or find it hard to button a shirt. Seniors with cognitive impairment or dementia may neglect their personal hygiene or forget to dress appropriately for the weather. For those with mobility issues, bathing and showering without assistance may be next to impossible.
A professional personal care assistant helps keep seniors safe, healthy, clean, comfortable, and looking their best.
2- Mobility and Transfers
Many older Americans struggle with limited mobility, making it difficult or dangerous to transfer in and out of bed or a chair, get in and out of a bath or shower, or on and off the toilet. Even simply getting around their home can be risky.
Falls are among the leading causes of unintentional injury deaths among seniors. At-home personal care services help mitigate that risk by recommending home modifications, training the senior on the use of mobility tools, and providing physical support where needed.
3- Eating, Nutrition, and Hydration
Physical challenges can make it harder to cook or feed oneself. Seniors with cognitive issues may forget to eat regularly. If they are prescribed a special diet, such as low-carb, reduced sodium, etc., things get even more complicated.
A personal care assistant ensures that your loved one eats healthy and gets enough to drink through grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and feeding assistance, all while adhering to their dietary needs and personal preferences.
4- Toilet and Continence Care
Many seniors have to deal with incontinence, which creates significant health, emotional, social, and financial burdens. The person may have a medical condition that affects their bladder or bowel function, they may have difficulty making it to the toilet due to limited mobility, or they may be affected by certain medications.
Compassionate at home personal care can help seniors with such needs, whether it’s assisting them on and off the toilet, changing their incontinence underwear, or swapping soiled clothes and bedding when accidents happen.
5- Medication Reminders
Keeping up with so many different drugs can seem confusing, especially for anyone with cognitive or memory issues. Not taking medication as precisely as prescribed by a doctor can lead to serious negative health outcomes such as worsened conditions or even accidental overdoses. Medication errors are one of the top causes of preventable hospitalizations among older adults. This is why many seniors benefit immensely from medication reminders provided by experienced professional in home personal care services.
6- Light Housekeeping
There are many reasons why people find it harder to keep their homes clean as they age: physical limitations, mobility issues, low energy, depression, or cognitive impairment, just to name a few. A dirty or cluttered house can lead to an unsanitary or even dangerous environment, increasing the risk of illness or falls. It can also worsen feelings of isolation or depression. In-home personal care eases the burden and protects seniors’ physical and emotional well-being by providing light housekeeping services.
Nurse Next Door McLean: Your Best At-Home Personal Care Provider in Virginia
Nurse Next Door McLean provides the compassionate at-home personal care services your loved one needs and deserves. We empower maximum independence by encouraging and supporting the person as they do as much as they can for themselves, stepping in to help where needed.
Our care plans are customizable to the unique needs of your family. We are here when you need us – full- or part-time, nights, weekends, and even holidays, 24/7.
Best of all, we provide these services with unmatched professionalism, dedication, expertise, and compassion.
If you want to know more about how Nurse Next Door McLean’s in-home personal care services can benefit your family, call us today at (703) 774-9421 for a free Caring Consult.
FAQs
What is an example of an instrumental activity of daily living?
IADLs are life skills that require some degree of complex or organizational thinking, such as shopping, meal preparation, paying bills, or managing medications.
What is the ADL checklist for mental health?
The ADL checklist looks at six self-care functions, including bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Those with mental health conditions might face challenges while performing these tasks.
What is the most common ADL assessment?
The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living is an assessment tool used to determine a person’s ability to perform essential self-care tasks.
What are the daily activities for mental health?
They include regular exercise, healthy nutrition and hydration, adequate sleep, relaxing activities, gratitude and positivity, and personal connections.
