3 signs your loved one may need residential aged care

Are you caring for a loved one, but not sure when you should start talking about aged care? 

It can be difficult to start the conversation about moving into aged care, especially if your loved one feels strongly about staying in their current home. However, there are certain circumstances that make it the best and safest option. 

To help you and your loved one make the right decision, here are 4 signs they may be ready to move into a residential aged care home. 

Falls, hospitalisations or a deterioration of health

If your loved one has been experiencing an increased number of falls or hospitalisations due to poor health, this could be a sign they are needing extra help and will benefit from residential aged care. 

An increased number of falls could indicate their mobility, balance or cognitive skills are deteriorating and staying in their home alone could increase their risk of serious injury. 

At HillView residential aged care you can be sure your loved one will receive the best medical care. We have registered nurses on-site 24/7 to ensure our residents receive the medical care they need. 

We’ve also specially designed both our Merrimac and Ashmore aged care homes to make it easier for our residents to get around with walking aids or limited mobility. Residents can easily navigate our spacious rooms, indoor facilities and beautiful landscaped gardens with handrails around all the common areas as well as in individual rooms. 

To increase safety our team can help residents with tools which enable them to do things more themselves, including room modifications or equipment to make life easier. 

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to complete everyday tasks

As much as your loved one may want to stay at home, there may come a time when their home may no longer meet their needs. Stairs, steep driveways or homes that require a lot of maintenance can make it harder for some people as they get older. 

If your loved one is experiencing frequent forgetfulness or memory loss it can also make it difficult for them to complete everyday tasks. Some other signs to watch out for that may indicate they are finding it harder to live alone include: 

• Forgetting to take medication or taking the wrong dose. 
• Poor hygiene because they are finding it difficult to shower themselves or clean their house. 
• Weight loss due to forgetting to eat or finding it too hard to cook for themselves.
• General out of character untidiness due to mobility problems or a loss of sight, hearing or other abilities. 

Moving into residential aged care can alleviate these problems. At HillView Care our residents can live as independently as they like, while receiving the assistance they require. 

We provide full housekeeping, cleaning and laundry services. We have a team of in-house chefs who fully prepare a delicious menu of meals everyday using the freshest ingredients. Our menu is dietician approved and we cater to all dietary requirements. We also hold regular food focus meetings with residents, who are encouraged to voice their preferences and ideas.

You’re finding it difficult to care for their needs

Taking care of an older parent or loved one isn’t always easy and can be quite overwhelming at times. If your own health or wellbeing is being affected as the needs of your loved one increase, it may be time to think about residential aged care. 

If you’re finding that you are relying on respite care more often because caring for them is becoming harder to manage, it may indicate that they need more help than you can provide at home. 

Whether it’s because you’re having to wake during the night to tend to the needs of your loved one, or you’re finding it difficult to lift or support them due to your own health concerns, residential aged care can help ease your stress, while giving you the peace of mind they are receiving the best care possible. 

Residential aged care with HillView Care

If you notice any of these signs and you think your loved one can no longer live independently at home, it may be time to consider residential aged care. HillView Care provides a home away from home for your loved ones with 24-hour on-site nursing care. 

We encourage our residents to maintain as much of their independence as possible, staying in control of how they run their day and how they are cared for. Our beautiful aged care homes at Merrimac and Ashmore provide all the comforts they need, with private rooms with ensuites, in-room technology and a huge variety of events and lifestyle activities to keep them engaged and connected. 

If you’d like to find out more about HillView Care, book a tour of our facilities or contact us and we’ll get in touch with you.