Most of the senior living calls I receive are from a stressed-out child of an elderly parent in the Skilled Nursing Facility. This person is busy with their own lives and finding out that their parents need a new level of care, which can mean a new normal for them. When an elderly parent gets discharged home, their level of care has often changed, and they need additional care. That can mean a more significant commitment from a family member or more hours from a caregiver.

Family Caregiver

A family caregiver may think they are saving money by doing their time and efforts to caring for a parent.  Many times this comes at a great cost to the family member who is trying to chip in and help.  Many adult children find themselves sacrificing their job, family commitment, and social lives only to make their relationships with their loved one worse than when they started. As you probably all ready know, this stuff gets complicated.

The first step in assessing someone’s care needs is to determine their current stage of care. Once you determine which stage of care your loved one is in, you should ask these questions to determine the number of hours they need to stay safe in-home or look for an assisted living option.

Questions to Assess Care

Watch my video on assessment elements that you can use to determine the amount of care your elderly parent may need.

-Do they live on their own?

-If another person lives with them, are they at risk of being injured?

-Can they ambulate?

-Do they follow instructions (will they use their walker?)

-Are they continent? Are they on hospice?

Answering these questions will often result in the solution of needing 24-hour care. This level of care is costly and can be pretty tricky to find in our current Caregiver shortage. It may be more practical financially to look at alternative senior living options.

Determine the right Senior Living option. Watch this video on what questions to ask to determine your loved one’s care needs. I can help you navigate these options, give me a call if you would like to discuss them.

Thanks,

David

805-748-2614

assisted living caregiver Home Care Services in San Luis Obispo CA
David Wood, Owner, SLO Caregivers
David Wood, Owner, SLO Caregivers

San Luis Obispo Caregivers was created in memory of my Grandfather, Tracy Gordon Wood II. My mission is to honor him by providing trustworthy, compassionate, and competitively priced caregiving services to seniors in my community. After 25 years in the financial industry and the decision to leave behind a successful 6-year position as the Chief Operating Officer of SESLOC Federal Credit Union, I created San Luis Obispo Home Care. This decision served my desire to make a difference and support the growing needs of seniors in my community. As my business grew and I leaned heavily on my financial background, I realized there was a much more cost-effective way to provide seniors with the care they deserve. This realization led to the creation of San Luis Obispo Caregivers, a referral agency and SLO Senior Placement, a free resource for families looking for independent or assisted living options for seniors. Ultimately, I listen, assess your situation and recommend various options that are available for your family.