Home Care Services: Why Are IADLs Important to Use as a Guide to Home Care Services?

Posted in Home Care, Home Care Services |

September 30, 2021

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Home Care Services: You’ve heard of ADLs being an excellent guideline for determining if your parents need home care.

Have you considered the benefit of looking at IADLs, too? IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are more complex skills that delve beyond walking around, using a toilet, or eating your meal. But, they are essential to your ability to live independently. You need to use these in decision-making. The chances are that your parents are fine on their own, but they just need that small helping hand to get through their week. Many of the Home Care Services that caregivers offer can help with these seven IADL categories.

 

Home Care Services in Headland AL: IADLs

Home Care Services in Headland AL: IADLs

 

#1 – Communication

Scheduling appointments or meetings over the phone or online is something your parents should be able to do, yet they’re not always able to. If they have a hard time hearing someone on the phone, seeing the buttons to dial, or figuring out how to book an appointment online, these are IADLs that caregivers can help them complete.

#2 – Housework

Housework doesn’t challenge everyone, but if your mom or dad develops painful arthritis, it may impact their ability to vacuum the stairs. Climbing a ladder to change a bulb or remove dust webs is dangerous when your ankles or knees ache. Changing sheets, washing dishes, and wiping down surfaces are other tasks that can become harder to manage.

#3 – Managing Medications

Many older adults take at least one prescription medication. Remembering to take them isn’t always easy. Ordering and picking up refills can also become a problem.

#4 – Paying Bills

Paying bills and ensuring there is enough money in an account to cover the bill is something else older adults can find difficult. Filling out a check, using the internet to pay a bill online, and checking balances are all aspects of financial management your parents may need help completing.

#5 – Preparing Meals

Can your mom and dad still cook meals? Do they rely on takeout and frozen foods regularly? Meal preparation services are worth considering if they can’t cook meals on their own.

#6 – Shopping

Do they shop for groceries independently or rely on you to read labels and check expiration dates? If they have a hard time creating a shopping list, avoiding extraneous purchases, or counting money at the register, caregivers are essential.

#7 – Transportation

Finally, it may be time to arrange to let someone else do the driving. If your mom and dad struggle with headlight glare, to stay in their lane, or to check their blind spot, it’s time to address having help with transportation.

Use an IADL checklist to determine what home care services are ideal for your parents. When you know, you’ll be able to discuss these services with a home care services specialist and get prices.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

What is “Do the Five?”

Posted in Caregiver in Headland AL, Home Care Services in Headland AL |

April 8, 2020

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Have you heard or seen Google’s “Do the Five” promotion. It’s a public awareness campaign the company has posted on its home page in cooperation with the World Health Organization. The goal is to make people aware that the best way to avoid spreading coronavirus is by practicing five important things.

 

Home Care Services in Headland AL: Do the Five

Home Care Services in Headland AL: Do the Five

 

 

#1 – Wash Your Hands Often

The most important thing is to wash your hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds ensuring the soap gets between the fingers and under the fingernails. Scrub thoroughly for the full 20 seconds before rinsing in water that’s as hot as you can stand.

When it comes to how long COVID-19 lasts on surfaces, there is some uncertainty. The CDC says that the agency is learning new things about the disease regularly but to clean surfaces in your home each day. The U.S. Department of Health’s NIH says it can last on surfaces for several hours.

Keep washing hands or using hand sanitizer after you touch anything outside of your home, after you cough/sneeze or blow your nose, and constantly while preparing food. Moisturize if your skin’s getting dry.

 

#2 – Cough or Sneeze Into Your Elbow

If you have to cough or sneeze, turn your head and cough into your elbow. That helps keep the spray from a cough or sneeze from spreading. If you have a tissue nearby, use that and throw it out immediately after.

 

#3 – Don’t Touch Your Face

This one can be tough. If your nose is itching or you have dry skin or a skin condition like rosacea that makes your skin itchy, do not scratch or touch your face. If you absolutely cannot stand it and must, go wash your hands first and wash your hands after, too.

 

#4 – Keep Your Distance

While Google and WHO’s public health announcement says to stay more than three feet apart, the CDC recommends staying at least six feet apart. Keep your distance from others. If you’re taking a walk, cross the street if someone else is coming in your direction. In a store, keep that six-foot gap between you and other shoppers.

 

#5 – Stay Home if You Feel Sick

The symptoms of coronavirus are cough, fever, and shortness of breath. They can take anywhere from 2 to 14 days to appear after you’re exposed. If you have any of them or learn you were near someone who’s been diagnosed with COVID-19, stay at home. Do not go anywhere.

Call your doctor for advice. Seek medical treatment if your symptoms worsen to chest pain or pressure, a bluish tinge to the lips or face, confusion or difficulty staying awake, or difficulty breathing.

 

It’s important that your parents stay isolated at this time. That may mean staying away from them. If you can’t stop by, hire senior care services to check on them as often as is needed. Senior care aides can deliver groceries, pick up prescription refills, and make sure your parents are okay.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources:
Nih.gov
Cdc.gov