Caregiver's Needs Assessment for Elder, Senior Safety at Home
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Working Caregiver- Needs Assessment for Caregivers

Elder's Needs Assessment

Now that your mom is older and living alone, you worry that she may fall or become ill with no one around to help. Or maybe it your elder neighbor that's always prided himself on his appearance, but lately his clothes are not as clean as they once were. There may be another elder in your life, father-in-law, perhaps, who lives far away, is hospitalized for dehydration; he had been having only tea and toast once a day, and no one had realized it. Another sign to watch out for in an elder - does he/she repeat him/herself and cannot remember the word to use? 

If you're like me, we face these changes in our elder loved everyday. And you, like me, want them to continue living at home. But you probably have concerns about their safety and well-being - and wonder where the line should be drawn.

Fortunately, we have many assessment tools and professional consultants that are available to help older people and family members decide when an older adult needs assistance.

Some Goals of Assessment

An assessment is a comprehensive review of a person's mental, physical, environmental, and financial condition to establish his or her ability to remain safely independent. It identifies the risks and can determine some good options to reduce those risks that you face. A thorough assessment will result in a comprehensive plan for meeting needs and addressing problems. The findings may help you decide whether change is necessary for your parents' safety and well-being, such as making new housing arrangements or getting in-home help. The best news about a thorough assessment usually leads to resolving issues, concerns and problems you face. And can lead to your parents ability to remain in their home, independently. 

You don't have to worry so much about them having an accident or getting ill. Just remember it important to include your elder in the decision process. You're going to need their buy-in and cooperation.

What You Should Assess

Professional assessments can take from three hours to several days to complete, and even filling out a form with your parent can take considerable time. What factors should you assess? Although different forms and professionals will offer slight variations, a thorough assessment should include the following topics:

Physical health

Selected factors to assess:

Diagnosed with any chronic diseases (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, emphysema)?


Other illnesses (for example, bowel or bladder problems, heart disease, stroke, cancer)? Allergies? Fractures or trauma?


Weight loss or gain? Incontinence? Balance problems? Skin growths or color changes? Persistent fatigue or sleeplessness? Swollen feet or legs, or limping? Vision problems (cataracts, use of vision aids)? Hearing problems? Dental problems (gum disease, strong breath, ill-fitting dentures)? Current vital signs. List of health professionals currently being seen. Recent hospitalizations?

Mental health

Selected factors to assess:

Diagnosed with any psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety disorder, psychosis)? Diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other dementia? Recent hospitalizations for any of the above problems? Alertness? Mood swings? Forgetfulness or wandering off? Confusion/disorientation? Sadness/ loneliness? Decreased interest in reading, writing, and communicating? Maintaining friends? Interest in life?

Medication use

Selected factors to assess:

All medicines taken (prescription or over-the-counter), with times per day and doses. Ability to take medications as directed and know how to avoid interactions. Barriers to proper medicine use (forgetfulness, expense, poor understanding of purpose or outcome of use).

Daily living

Selected factors to assess:

Mobility or need for adaptive aids. Special dietary needs, favorite foods. Ability to dress, bathe, get up from a chair, use a toilet, use the phone, climb stairs, get help in an emergency, shop, prepare meals, do housework and yard work, drive safely.

Home and community safety

Selected factors to assess:

Neighborhood. Home safety (hazards, adaptive aids, presence of smoke alarms). Ability to avoid telephone and door-to-door fraud. Yard and house maintenance.

Support system

Selected factors to assess:

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of key family members, friends, and neighbors. Does your parent have frequent visitors or see friends?

Does he or she go to a Senior Center? Get out of the house for other social reasons? Belong to organizations, including faith-based groups? Do family members live nearby?

Selected factors to assess:

Overall appearance. Personal hygiene (brush teeth, trim nails, shave, wash and comb hair)? Clothes clean, and dressed appropriately?

Finances

Selected factors to assess:

What insurance coverage is in place? Does insurance cover custodial care? What are your parents’ total assets? Are there any legal documents such as trusts, living wills, and/or durable powers of attorney? Do your parents have a financial plan? How long will his or her assets last? Any sources of financial assistance? Does your parent pay bills on time and make informed financial decisions?

Interests/lifestyles

Selected factors to assess:

Hobbies, reading preferences, favorite TV and radio programs, exercise, musical instruments played, languages spoken, favorite conversation topics, travel experience, important life events, religious/spiritual background, accomplishments, social activities.

Check out the Caregiver's Resource Helpline at 1-888-797-7806!