Freedom Home Care is encouraging seniors and their families to take a fresh look at their circumstances this New Year. We believe it’s important for people to be armed with information on potential needs for the frail elderly and are assisting the public in crafting their own “care plans” in an effort to ensure independence and safety at home in the years to come.

If you or a loved one have made the decision to age in place and receive in-home care, the next step is to assess the level of care that you will require. There is a classic assessment test called the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, developed to help professional caregivers assess the level of assistance needed in the home; however, here is a list of some of the main daily activities that anyone can use to help determine their in-home care needs.

• Ability to use a telephone: This is an important function for seniors in the event of an emergency. If the senior can operate a phone, look up phone numbers, and dial a few well-known numbers, he or she may not need assistance in this area. However, if the senior can only answer the phone, but not dial, or cannot use a phone at all, this is an area where assistance is needed.
• Shopping: Depending on mobility, some seniors may be able to shop for themselves, while others may need accompaniment to the store or to have their shopping done by a caregiver.
• Food preparation: Proper nutrition is important for aging seniors, and you may find that your loved ones are not maintaining an adequate diet from the meals they prepare for themselves. If this is the case, they may need assistance with food preparation.
• Housekeeping: Daily household chores can be daunting for frail seniors. This is an area where many home care clients require assistance to help maintain upkeep of their homes.
• Medication responsibilities: A certain amount of memory loss is common with aging, so many seniors feel the need to receive medication reminders. For seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, this assistance is particularly important.

Contact Freedom Home Care in Dothan, Alabama at 334-803-8078 or Opelika, Alabama at 334-745-7308 to find out more about our home care services and how we can schedule services that meet your family's needs. Freedom Home Care also has offices in Columbus, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama.