“Can you move the mug a little closer?”
Dad’s coffee is right there on the kitchen counter. The trouble is, he’s already made the trip from the bedroom and sat down. His big toe started hurting overnight, and those last few steps to the counter can wait. He asks for the newspaper while you’re up. Then he remembers his glasses are still in the bedroom.
That’s the sort of morning we have in mind when families ask us about compassionate senior home care solutions. A person can still want their coffee at the kitchen table, even when it takes someone else to get it there.
Start with what’s already on the calendar
If Dad has had gout before and has a plan from his clinician, find out what he needs help with today. He might be worried about getting to an appointment. Or he’s wondering who’ll bring in the grocery delivery before the ice cream turns to soup.
When you call trusted compassionate home care providers, give them the details you’d give a sibling who was coming over. “He’s got an appointment at eleven, and his shoes are by the back door” is a good start. At Southern California Caregiving, we can talk through what a visit could cover, from getting dressed to picking up groceries.
Let Dad order his own lunch
Word gets around that Dad’s gout is acting up, and suddenly everyone has a theory about what he ate. He may already have food guidance from his clinician. Ask what he’d like within that plan, and offer to make it. If he wants to talk about what might be bringing on the flares, help him put his questions in one place for his next appointment.
See what he wants to do tomorrow
The best compassionate home care services for your family will depend on what your parent needs help with and when. Ask how the visit could change as the flare settles. Dad might be back to making his own coffee before he feels up to carrying a bag of groceries. Let him tell you what he’s ready to take on.
