If Mom’s Depressed, a Home Care Aide Might Help
Home Care Services Upper Darby PA
No one other than a well-trained and licensed medical professional should ever diagnose depression. However, you understand your mother quite well. You’ve noticed her mental frame of mind being different lately. You worry she could be depressed about her health, physical limitations, or maybe the fact family members won’t be visiting this holiday season.
She may be lonely. If your mother has been living alone for quite some time, relying on you to help out every few days, that may have been beneficial, but she may be at an increased risk of depression.
If you’re concerned about depression, talk to her about it.
Don’t diagnose it yourself. You may want to encourage her to visit her doctor or at least consult him or her. There may be something they can do to help. Her depressive symptoms might be related to certain prescription medications she’s taking for other health issues.
If she’s depressed or feeling down because of her loneliness, you may be trying to figure out a worthy solution. You might try to encourage her to move in with you and your family. She doesn’t want to do that, though.
She wants to stay where she is, where she’s comfortable, and as close to her friends as she can be. It might be more than half an hour or an hour away from you at the moment.
She needs to have the right to decide her course of care.
Your mother has every right to determine where she wants to live. If she wants to remain at home, you need to respect her decision. You don’t have to agree with it and you may be extremely convinced she would do better in your house, but it’s up to her.
Depression or depressive symptoms may be associated with that loneliness.
What would happen if she relied on a home care aide daily? Maybe you don’t want to consider daily because of the expense, but if you hire through an agency, you may be able to hire somebody for every other day, every few days, or some other interval.
Your mother may be physically capable of taking care of herself, but a home care aide can provide valuable companionship. This experienced caregiver could help your mother see things she could still do, if she wanted to pursue them.
This holiday season is a great time to discuss the prospect of hiring home care services for those who may either be struggling physically or dealing with feelings of isolation and loneliness.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Upper Darby PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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