As Mental Health Declines for Your Elderly Mother, You May Become Her Caregiver Without Even Realizing It

You’ve noticed the changes in your elderly mother for some time. Her mental health has been declining for a while. Maybe it is associated with memory. She might be forgetting things too often, struggling to keep track of medications, doctors’ appointments, or even conversations you have with her.

 

 

Home Care Services in Lake Forest IL: Becoming Her Caregiver

Home Care Services in Lake Forest IL: Becoming Her Caregiver

 

If you have any concerns whatsoever about cognitive decline or even mental health concerns, encourage her to visit her doctor for a proper diagnosis. Don’t fall into the common trap these days of going online and looking up symptoms, assuming what you discover is what your mother is facing.

That being said, you may become her caregiver without even realizing it.

 

Many people become family caregivers gradually over time.

Sure, some people become family caregivers all of a sudden. Their elderly father might have a stroke or heart attack and need support. Maybe their aging mother had major surgery after a slip and fall accident.

Perhaps it was your spouse who suffered significant injuries or some other medical crisis and now you find yourself tending to his or her everyday needs on a regular basis.

Being a caregiver can cause a tremendous amount of stress. Whether it happened suddenly or gradually over time, you wake up one day and realize that most of your life and desires are slipping away from you.

 

How do you handle these changes?

You understand your mother’s mental health is not what it used to be. But, at the same time, you don’t want to turn your back on her. Not now. Not after everything she has done for you in your life.

You don’t have to.

What you need to do is realize you have the right to live your life on your terms. You have the right to enjoy life, too. Just as she has the right to still maintain as high a quality of life as possible, you should be able to do the same.

That means you may need support.

Home care is a great option.

Many family caregivers don’t think about home care because they assume this would mean they don’t care about this aging loved one. In truth, if you knew all the benefits home care provides, especially to somebody with declining mental health challenges, physical limitations, or other struggles, you would understand why it is an act of love to look into and recommend home care.

When you rely on home care, you don’t have to stop caring for your mother. You can still support her, help her, but have somebody else take some of the weight off your shoulders.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Lake Forest, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.

LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services