Helping a Parent Stay Independent at Home in Trinity, New Port Richey and West Pasco

For many older adults in Trinity, New Port Richey and communities throughout West Pasco, staying in their own home is important.

Home is familiar. It’s where routines have been established, neighbors are known and memories have been made. But as someone gets older, staying home successfully may require making adjustments along the way.

The question for families isn’t always, “Can Mom still live at home?”

A better question may be:

“What would help Mom continue living at home safely and comfortably?”

The answer can be different for every family.

Start With What Has Changed

Often, there isn’t one major event that causes a family to become concerned.

Instead, small things begin to change.

Maybe Dad isn’t preparing meals as regularly. Mom has stopped driving at night. Laundry is piling up. Getting in and out of the shower has become more difficult. A spouse is quietly taking on more and more responsibility.

Individually, these changes may not seem like a crisis. Together, they can indicate that an older adult—or the person caring for them—could use additional support.

Some things families may notice include:

• Difficulty with bathing or dressing
• Changes in mobility or balance
• Trouble keeping up with meals or housekeeping
• Increasing isolation
• Missed appointments or errands
• Concerns about driving
• A spouse becoming overwhelmed
• Increasing forgetfulness or confusion
• A recent fall or near-fall
• Difficulty getting up from a chair or moving around the home

Recognizing these changes early gives families more time to consider their options.

Staying Home Doesn’t Have to Mean Doing Everything Alone

Independence is sometimes confused with doing everything without assistance.

But accepting help with certain activities can actually make it possible for someone to remain independent longer.

An older adult may still be capable of making decisions, enjoying activities, visiting friends and managing much of daily life while needing assistance with a few specific things.

For example, someone might need help with bathing but remain independent with most other activities. Another person may need transportation, meal preparation or help around the house.

The amount and type of support should be based on the individual—not simply their age.

Look at the Most Difficult Parts of the Day

One useful way to think about support is to ask:

“When during the day are things becoming hardest?”

For some families, mornings are difficult because getting up, showering and dressing take more effort.

For others, the challenge comes later in the day. Someone with dementia may become more confused or anxious in the afternoon or evening.

Another person may do well throughout the day but feel uncomfortable being alone overnight.

Families don’t necessarily need to solve every possible future problem at once. Start by identifying where the current gaps are.

Sometimes addressing those few difficult hours can make a meaningful difference.

Don’t Forget the Family Caregiver

Sometimes the person who most clearly needs help isn’t the older adult.

It’s their spouse, daughter, son or other family caregiver.

A spouse may say:

“We’re doing fine.”

But “fine” may mean they haven’t had an uninterrupted night’s sleep in months.

An adult daughter may be managing her parent’s appointments, groceries and medications while also working and raising her own family.

Family caregiving can develop gradually. Because each new responsibility is added one at a time, families may not recognize how demanding the overall situation has become.

Support for the family caregiver can be just as important as support for the older adult.

Consider the Home Itself

A home that worked well 10 or 20 years ago may not work as well when someone’s abilities change.

Walk through the home and consider how the person actually functions there.

Are commonly used items easy to reach? Are pathways clear? Is there adequate lighting? Is getting into the shower becoming difficult? Is a favorite chair now too low to get out of comfortably?

Pay particular attention to places where the person has begun changing their behavior.

If Dad has stopped using the upstairs bedroom, ask why.

If Mom no longer showers unless someone is nearby, there may be a reason.

Changes in routine can sometimes tell families where additional support or modifications may be helpful.

There Are More Choices Than “Home Alone” or Assisted Living

Families sometimes feel as though they have only two choices:

Keep Mom at home exactly as things are—or move her.

There are many possibilities between those two extremes.

Depending upon the situation, families may consider help from relatives or neighbors, community resources, transportation programs, home modifications, technology, professional care management, home care or other services.

And circumstances can change.

A solution that works today doesn’t have to be the solution forever.

The goal is to build the right amount of support for the person’s current needs and reevaluate as those needs change.

When Home Care May Be Part of the Solution

Home care can be useful when an older adult wants to remain at home but needs assistance with parts of everyday life.

Depending upon the individual’s needs, an independent caregiver may provide help with activities such as:

• Personal care
• Bathing and dressing
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Companionship
• Transportation and errands
• Respite for a family caregiver
• Support following a hospital or rehabilitation stay
• Supervision for someone experiencing cognitive changes

Some families need significant support. Others may initially need only a few hours at particular times.

The important thing is identifying what problem the family is trying to solve.

Finding Support in West Pasco

Families in Trinity, New Port Richey and surrounding West Pasco communities often begin looking for help after something changes—a hospitalization, a fall, a new diagnosis or increasing caregiver exhaustion.

But you don’t have to wait for a crisis.

Griswold Care Pairing Tampa/Pasco has been helping families connect with caregivers for many years. We can talk with you about what’s happening, help identify the type of assistance you’re looking for and discuss whether an independent caregiver may fit into your family’s plan.

Sometimes the conversation confirms that home care would be helpful.

Other times, a different resource may be more appropriate.

Either way, the first step is understanding what’s happening now.

Start With a Conversation

If you’re beginning to wonder whether a parent or spouse in Trinity, New Port Richey or elsewhere in West Pasco County needs more support at home, you don’t have to have everything figured out before asking for help.

Start with the question:

“What’s becoming harder than it used to be?”

That answer can help determine what comes next.

Contact Griswold Care Pairing Tampa/Pasco to talk about your family’s situation and explore options for helping a loved one remain at home.