Growing Older is Inevitable

Evaluating Your Loved One’s Needs

As more people enter the later stages of life, it becomes increasingly important to recognize ways to monitor and assess the changing needs of our loved ones. And, while growing older is inevitable, there will come a time when you need to ask yourself whether a loved one is still able to care for him/herself independently.

At MediNurse, we care about the health of you and your loved ones. Utilize our Evaluation Checklist to assist in identifying and monitoring changes in your loved one’s behavior. Asking these questions now can better prepare for planning and coordination of care in the future.

Have you noticed a change in the way a loved one is maintaining his/her yard or home?

Signs to look for:

• Cleanliness, tidiness and overall organization of the home have declined
• Laundry, grocery shopping, or bill payments have not been tended to

Have you noticed that a loved one is beginning to show signs of memory loss?

Signs to look for:

• Missed appointments or commitments that were recently made
• Getting lost or confused in familiar places
• Frequently misplacing or losing important items
• Forgetting conversations
• Easily distracted or confused

Have you noticed a loved one showing signs or symptoms of depression?

Signs to look for:

• Withdrawn in social situations or appears sad, lonely, restless or irritable
• Displaying a more negative attitude than usual
• Isolates him/herself from contact with loved ones

Have you noticed a change in appetite?

Signs to look for:

• Non-diet related weight gain or weight loss
• Overall fluctuation in weight
• Decreased interest in cooking and/or eating

Have you noticed a decline in driving capabilities?

Signs to look for:

• Driving frequency has decreased
• Driving at inappropriate speeds (too fast or too slow)
• Vision problems
• Hearing problems

Have you noticed medications are not being taken as prescribed?

Sign to look for:

• Wrong medication is being used
• Improper medication dosage

Have you noticed a decline in grooming or personal hygiene?

Signs to look for:

• Clothes are not being laundered or do not appear to be clean
• Bathing frequency has declined
• Lapsed attention to oral hygiene
• Decline in daily activities/exercise

Have you noticed signs of incontinence?

Signs to look for:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Occasional leaks or dribbles of urine
• Rushing to the restroom

What’s next?

To monitor changes in loved ones, keep a log and share modifications with the person’s doctor. If you have not seen signs of declining health, date your checklist and file it for future reference. Evaluate the individual again in two months. If you begin to notice signs of declining health, date the checklist and provide each checklist to the individual’s healthcare provider. This can be helpful when trying to decide when the decline began and how rapid the decline is progressing.

It can be difficult to recognize that our loved ones may need assistance in decision making and care. Defining when assistance is necessary and determining where to start may be overwhelming. MediNurse is here to help.

MediNurse is St. Louis’ premier provider of private duty nursing, and offers care services that are customized to the individual needs and expectations of the client, patient and loved ones to ensure the best care possible. For more information, call us at 314-781-2800 or visit www.medinurse.com.