How to know if a senior needs in-home care

Those who may see their older family members for the first time in a while during the holiday season should be alert for possible warning signs that they may need assisted living services.

Changes to a person’s physical or mental health, including their living situation, can raise concerns about their ability to live independently, according to Assisted Living Services Inc.

The organization, which has been around for more than 22 years, is based in Meriden with branches in Fairfield and Clinton. It provides care to Connecticut’s seniors and training to those caring for senior family members as needed.

“Every January, we see a spike in phone calls inquiring about in-home care,” said Ron D’Aquila, co-founder and CEO of Assisted Living Services. “Families who live out of town especially can be overwhelmed trying to figure out the best care option and where to start looking for assistance.”

Age-related decline can happen quickly, D’Aquila said. In some cases, senior citizens can conceal new and worsening problems from their loved ones.

He said signs that they might need additional help or care include forgetfulness or confusion, neglect of physical appearance or basic hygiene, neglect of medical needs, personality changes, trouble performing routine tasks, inability to handle finances or pay bills and clumsiness or a recent history of falling.

“It’s important to address the situation as soon as possible,” D’Aquila said.

He said the first step is to take a visit to their primary care physician for a checkup to ensure there are no underlying causes.

“Your physician is the best resource to help determine if professional home health care, such as nursing care or physical therapy is necessary,” D’Aquila said, adding that sometimes all that is needed is non-medical support.

For some, the most difficult part of this is dealing with talking to their loved one about needing help. But once they’ve agreed to it, D’Aquila said, they can be eased into the transition.

He said most people start with a personal care assistant a few hours a week that helps with most of the basics. Assisted Living Services offers 24-hour live-in care. “Most elderly people want to remain in their own home and home care is more costeffective than an in-patient care facility,” D’Aquila said.

Visit www.assitedlivingct.com or call 203-634-8668 for information.