Caregiver helping an older adult prepare a nutritious meal
Your elderly parent sounds fine on the phone but there are unopened takeout boxes stacked against the fridge. On the kitchen counter is a pill organizer where Wednesday’s pills have been placed in Friday’s slot. For a child, these are the moments when they wonder: is it safe for my parent with heart failure to live alone?
Often the answer is based on the nature, frequency, and severity of symptoms. Here are five examples that can assist families in determining the type of care that might be necessary.
The Fridge Has Unopened Take-Out Boxes
It is okay if there is one leftover meal, maybe the soup wasn’t right. If there are multiple unopened trays, stale bread, and expired milk, then the situation should be looked into. It could be the case that poor appetite, low energy, nausea, or balance issues might be preventing your parent from cooking regular meals.
A friend or neighbor could perhaps deliver pre-made meals and check over lunch. Home care can be helpful when parents need help with meal prep, stocking the pantry, and meal reminders. A caregiver can also assess the situation. For example, is your parent getting winded bringing plates out of the microwave?
Sudden loss of appetite, confusion, vomiting, and extreme weakness should be reported immediately to a healthcare provider.
The Pill Box Isn’t Being Taken Correctly
Maybe there was one pill that rolled under the toaster. If the box is consistently filled incorrectly with two AM pills in the PM slot or PM pills in the AM slot, and there are pills scattered in a dish on the counter, there could be a problem. Heart failure medications (look at this site) must be taken correctly.
A friend or relative might be able to fill the box correctly and check on it every few days. The situation regarding when is home care recommended for heart failure comes into play if parents forget to take their meds or don’t know how to properly read a prescription bottle. A caregiver can remind them to take their meds and watch to see if they take their dose.
Any questions about changing medications or repeated incidents of missed doses should be addressed to the doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not adjust your parent’s dosage on your own.
Your Parent Is Breathing Heavily After A Shower
Listen for a shower being turned off after a minute. See if there is a wet towel thrown on the ground beside the tub because lifting the towel to hang it up is too exhausting. Being short of breath in the shower might make a fall more likely especially on the slippery tile floor.
If you can help with installing a shower chair or a non-slip mat and being close by while your parent showers, you could help them out on occasion. But if they’re getting extremely tired from every bath, dressing, and walk back to their bedroom, they might need personal care on a more regular basis.
Home caregiver assisting an older adult with safe daily routines
If shortness of breath is new or getting worse, occurs even while resting, or is accompanied by chest pain, dizziness, blue tint to the lips, or severe discomfort, seek immediate medical attention, possibly calling an ambulance.
There Are Tight Shoes In The Closet
There might be shoes that fit well in the closet that now are cutting off circulation at the top of the foot. A sock might leave marks on the ankle, and when you press your thumb on the shin there might be an indentation. This could be caused by fluid retention.
You can help keep track of weight every day (there is a helpful breakdown at https://cochranelibrary.com/cdsr) using the same scale in the same place, preferably first thing in the morning and then mark that on a calendar on the wall near the sink. Home care might be indicated if it isn’t possible to ensure the daily weigh-in, provide meal support, offer mobility assistance, or monitor symptoms regularly.
Please reach out to the doctor who is treating your parent about any new or increased swelling, sudden weight gain, increased shortness of breath, or trouble lying flat. Don’t change the amount of fluids they drink or change their medications without speaking to the doctor first.
The Caregiver Can No Longer Be Around Every Day
Sometimes the change becomes obvious to the rest of the family. You might hear that an employee is missing calls from work, an overnight bag is sitting by the front door, or there’s a phone charger on the pillow because they want to be sure they hear it if the phone rings at 2AM. A person might not be able to provide constant care on their own.
Help might include:
- Getting dressed in the morning and staying presentable
- Preparing meals and drinking water
- Light housework and walking around the house
- Company and monitoring in between family visits
Finding The Best Plan
If a lunch gets left behind or shoes no longer fit, you should think about other things like the pill organizer, the wet floor by the tub, and how many times the doctor comes over to check on your parent. Write down what has changed and let the doctor know. Give your parent the type of care they need. If they are experiencing serious symptoms, do not wait for the doctor to come over, call for help.
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