11 Signs Your Parent May Need a Nursing Home

Signs your parent needs a nursing home

Your parent may need a nursing home if they start to show a combination of several of the following signs.

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1. Inability to care for themselves

Your parent’s inability to care for themselves may be the first sign they need a nursing home. They may stop showering or forget to take their medication. They may lose or gain weight due to a poor diet because they can no longer cook or make healthy food choices.

2. Frequent falls and injury

It’s common for older adults to fall and hurt themselves. But if your loved one is falling regularly, they may need someone to keep a close eye on them.

3. Unsafe being left alone

Your parent may do things that aren’t safe, like leaving doors unlocked, not turning off the stove, or getting lost in familiar places.

4. Chronic conditions

Your parent may require 24/7 care if they have one or more of the following chronic conditions:

 Cancer

 Diabetes

 Congestive heart failure

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

 Psychiatric conditions

 Neurological issues

 Parkinson’s disease

 Dementia

 Stroke

5. Difficulty managing medications

Many older adults take five or more medications a day. As people age, their ability to remember when and how to take their medications decreases. It’s cause for concern, especially if your loved one’s medication manages chronic conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure. 6. Neglecting hygiene and chore

Your parent may stop showering or doing laundry. You may notice more clutter around the house, stacks of dirty dishes in the sink, or overloaded trash bins.

7. Several trips to emergency room

The number of emergency room trips may increase as a person ages. Your parent may need extra care if their trips to the emergency room become more frequent.

8. Signs of dementia

Dementia is a loss of cognitive functions, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning. It gets worse over time, and there’s no cure for it. There are different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Over time, the symptoms of dementia may make nursing care the best option for your loved one.

Dementia signs include:

 Memory loss

 Confusion

 Inability to understand and express thoughts

 Getting lost in familiar places

 Trouble paying bills

 Repeating questions

 Becoming unreasonable

 Inability to complete tasks

 Using unusual words for familiar items

 Mood swings

9. Changes in mobility

As your parent ages, they may not be able to move like they used to. They may lose their ability to walk or maintain balance. Or they may lose the physical ability to get out of bed or get to the bathroom. If their mobility issues increase their fall risk or make it difficult to navigate at home, a nursing home may be a good option.

10. Difficulty performing activities of daily living

Older adults who struggle with activities of daily living (ADLs) can be nursing home candidates. ADLs are skills required to live independently. They include things like:

 Walking independently

 Feeding yourself

 Picking out clothes and dressing yourself

 Bathing, grooming, and brushing teeth

 Controlling your bladder

 Getting to and from the toilet and cleaning yourself

11. Caregiver burnout

Taking care of an aging parent is hard work. It can affect your quality of life and impact your physical and mental health. A nursing home could provide a safe place for your loved one so you can get rest, better manage caregiver burnout, and take care of yourself.

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What qualifies someone for a nursing home?

Texas has various requirements for nursing home care. But typically, people who can’t safely live alone are eligible.

Medicaid may look at the following four areas to determine if your parent qualifies:

1. Physical ability: Medicaid will check your parent’s ability to perform ADLs, like getting out of bed and feeding themself.

2. Medical issues: They’ll consider your parent’s need for help with injections, catheters, and intravenous medications.

3. Cognitive function: They’ll assess your loved one’s cognitive abilities, especially if they’ve been diagnosed with dementia.

4. Behavioral issues: They’ll ask about changes in your loved one’s behavior, such as wandering, impulsiveness, and aggressiveness.

Finding a nursing home that’s right for your loved one There are many things to consider when choosing a nursing home. Start by printing Questions to Ask When You Visit a Nursing Home, a free checklist from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Questions to ask about potential nursing homes include:

 What state agency licensed the nursing home and administrator?

 Does the nursing home’s inspection report show quality of care problems or other citations?

 Are residents clean, well-groomed, and appropriately dressed for the season or time of day?

 Can the nursing home provide for individual dietary needs and preferences (like low-salt or no-sugar-added diets)?

 Does the nursing home have specific policies and procedures related to the care of residents with dementia?

Take the checklist with you when you visit nursing homes and use the questions to guide your conversation with staff members.

When looking for a nursing home in your area, taking these steps can help:

 Ask friends and neighbors about their experiences

 Talk to your loved one’s health care provider about their existing insurance coverages

 Be aware of your loved one’s financial position

 Call Marci at (713) 309-6779

How to talk to a parent about living in a nursing home Talking to an aging parent about where they should live can be stressful. Your loved one may like their independence and reject the notion that they need (or will someday need) long-term care.

These tips may help you get the conversation started:

 Learn about nursing home care: Be prepared to answer your loved one’s questions, such as if they qualify for a nursing home and how much it will cost.

 Make a list of your concerns: If you notice changes in your parent’s behavior, such as trouble with ADLs, jot those down.

 Have the talk before care is needed: It will be less stressful if you and you or your loved one have a plan in place before a crisis occurs.

 Schedule a stress-free time and location: If possible, have your talk in person. Make sure your loved one is comfortable and well rested.

 Listen to your loved one with empathy: Let them know you understand any fear and anxiety they might be feeling.

 Schedule a follow-up chat: More than likely, you probably won’t have everything ironed out after the first talk. Plan to revisit the conversation in the future.

 Ask Marci if you can visit a nursing home together: Be prepared to check out a facility with your loved one.

The bottom line

As your loved ones get older, they may no longer be able to live at home. You may have observed changes in their behavior, such as confusion about their medication and lack of personal hygiene. These are signs that your loved one may need nursing home care.

Marci can help you do your homework and learn as much as you can about nursing homes. Schedule a time to talk about your concerns. It is better to get the conversation started early rather than in the middle of a crisis.

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