Phamry | Updated 更新 July 22, 2020 2020年7月22日
Most seniors are happy, healthy and fully independent. However, by its very nature, the aging process eventually brings about physical and mental changes that can interfere with an active and independent lifestyle.
大多数老年人是快乐的，健康的，完全独立的。然而，就其本质而言，衰老过程最终会带来身体和精神上的变化，这些变化会干扰积极独立的生活方式。
When Does a Senior Need Help at Home?老年人什么时候需要家庭帮助？
A change in functioning doesn’t have to necessitate a move to assisted living or a nursing home, but it does indicate a need for extra help to support a senior’s desire to age in place. Family members often step in to provide support and supervision, but hiring a professional caregiver for in-home help may be necessary at some point to address an elder’s increasing care needs. Ultimately, involving a home health aide can benefit both the seniors and their family caregivers.
身体机能的改变并不意味着必须搬到养老院或疗养院，但它确实表明需要额外的帮助，以支持老年人希望老去的愿望。家庭成员经常介入提供支持和监督，但在某些时候，为了满足老年人日益增长的护理需求，可能需要聘请专业的家庭护理人员。最终，家庭健康护理的参与可以使老年人和他们的家庭护理者受益。
Recognize the Signs That an Aging Loved One Needs Help at Home认识到年迈的爱人需要家庭帮助的迹象
Changes in personal appearance and household cleanliness typically indicate a shift in physical and/or mental status. Even subtle behavioral changes may imply that an elder is no longer capable of completing once familiar tasks without support. Maybe you’ve noticed that Dad’s unopened mail is piling up or that Grandma, once meticulous about her appearance, is wearing dirty clothes and not doing her hair. These are just two real-life examples of the many definitive signs that an individual’s functional abilities are in decline.
个人外表和家庭清洁度的变化通常表明身体和/或精神状态的转变。即使是细微的行为变化也可能意味着老年人不再能够在没有支持的情况下完成曾经熟悉的任务。也许你已经注意到爸爸没有打开的邮件堆积起来了，或者奶奶，曾经对自己的外表很讲究，现在却穿着脏衣服，不梳头发。这只是两个现实生活中的例子，许多明确的迹象表明，一个人的功能能力正在下降。
It is often apparent upon arrival at a loved one’s home that things have gone awry. Household chores can become challenging for a number of reasons, but when upkeep has stopped to the point of extreme clutter and unsanitary conditions, it is a clear warning that outside help is required for maintaining health and safety in the home. Other signs include inadequate fresh food in the house, evidence of weight loss, forgetting to take medications, and unexplained bruising that often points to changes in mobility.
很明显，到达爱人的家时，事情往往出了岔子。由于多种原因，家务活可能会变得具有挑战性，但是当家务活已经停止到了极度混乱和不卫生的地步时，这是一个明确的警告: 为了维持家庭的健康和安全，需要外界的帮助。其他症状包括家中新鲜食物不足，体重减轻，忘记服药，以及无法解释的瘀伤，这些常常表明活动能力发生了变化。
Deviation from established personal hygiene routines is one of the most common red flags that family members observe. Although seniors may not bathe as frequently as they did when they were younger, a strong smell of urine or body odor or refusal to change out of dirty clothes indicates it is time to step in. A noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care is a sure sign that a senior is struggling physically and/or mentally to meet their own needs.
偏离既定的个人卫生习惯是家庭成员最常见的危险信号之一。虽然老年人可能不会像年轻时那样经常洗澡，但是一股强烈的尿味或体味，或者拒绝换下脏衣服，都表明是时候介入了。打扮习惯和个人护理的明显下降，是老年人在身体和/或精神上努力满足自己需求的明显迹象。
New or worsening health issues often indicate that a senior requires a full medical workup and could benefit from skilled help at home. A home health care provider can help an aging loved one monitor their vital signs, manage chronic medical conditions, navigate their complex medication regimen, participate in therapy exercises that improve independence and care for wounds.
新的或恶化的健康问题往往表明，老年人需要全面的医疗检查，可以受益于熟练的家庭帮助。一个家庭医疗服务提供者可以帮助一个年老的爱人监测他们的生命体征，管理慢性病，操纵他们复杂的药物治疗方案，参加治疗练习，提高独立性和护理伤口。
Recognize the Signs of Caregiver Burnout认识照顾者疲劳的迹象
If you are currently helping your loved one with grocery shopping, housekeeping, transportation to appointments or managing their medications, be honest about how this added responsibility is affecting you, your family and your schedule. Caregiving is emotionally demanding and physically exhausting. It is important for caregivers to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout and acknowledge when it is time to share the workload. If the level of care a loved one requires has become more than you can handle, or your level of involvement is causing anxiety or depression, hiring a home health aide may be the best solution for everyone involved.
如果你目前正在帮助你爱的人购物、打理家务、预约交通或管理他们的药物，诚实地告诉他们这些额外的责任是如何影响你、你的家庭和你的日程安排的。照料是一种情感上的要求和体力上的消耗。对照顾者来说，重要的是要认识到照顾者精疲力竭的迹象，并承认何时是分担工作量的时候。如果你所爱的人需要的照顾已经超出了你的承受能力，或者你的参与程度导致了焦虑或抑郁，那么雇佣一个家庭健康护理员可能是最好的解决方案。
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How to Start the Conversation About Hiring Help at Home如何开启关于在家雇佣帮手的谈话
If you’ve noticed the red flags above in yourself or your loved one, the time to start talking about hiring non-medical home care services and/or home health care is sooner rather than later. Do not wait until a crisis occurs. Sadly, elder care can be a delicate topic that many seniors wish to avoid. So, how do you bring up sensitive subjects related to aging? Home Instead Senior Care, an American-based multinational network of franchises specializing in non-medical home-based care, offers some tips and conversation starters that might help overcome the awkwardness.
如果你已经注意到自己或你爱的人身上的危险信号，那么现在开始讨论聘用非医疗性的家庭护理服务和/或家庭护理的时间是越早越好。不要等到危机发生。可悲的是，老年护理可能是一个敏感的话题，许多老年人希望避免。那么，你如何提出与衰老有关的敏感话题呢？“家庭而不是老年护理”(Home Instead Senior Care)是一家总部位于美国的跨国网络机构，专门从事非医疗性的家庭护理业务。该机构提供了一些建议和话题，可能有助于克服这种尴尬局面。
Tips for Talking About In-Home Care With Seniors
与老年人谈论家庭护理的小贴士
Discuss what you’ve observed and ask your loved one what they think is going on. If they acknowledge the situation, ask what you can do to help and what they think would be viable solutions. If a senior does not recognize the problem or shrugs it off, use concrete examples to support your concerns.
讨论你所观察到的，并询问你爱的人他们认为发生了什么。如果他们承认这种情况，问问你能做些什么来帮助他们，以及他们认为什么是可行的解决方案。如果高年级学生没有意识到这个问题，或者对此不屑一顾，用具体的例子来支持你的观点
Seniors will often go to great lengths to maintain their independence. Instead of focusing on how your loved one needs the extra help at home, emphasize that home care would actually be beneficial for you, too. Focus on the shared advantages of having an “extra pair of hands” available on a regular basis.
老年人往往会不遗余力地维持他们的独立性。与其专注于你所爱的人在家里需要额外的帮助，不如强调家庭护理实际上对你也有好处。专注于定期拥有一双“多余的手”的共同优势
Remember that you are having a conversation with an adult, not talking to a child. Put yourself in their shoes and think of how you would want to be addressed in this situation. Patronizing speech will only put older adults on the defensive and convey disrespect.
记住你是在和一个成年人交谈，而不是和一个孩子交谈。设身处地为他们想想，在这种情况下，你希望别人怎么对待你。居高临下的说话只会让老年人处于防御状态，并传达出不尊重的意思
Perhaps it would help to defer to an authority on this matter. Speak with their doctor about what you have observed. A physician who understands and shares your concerns will reinforce that accepting help at home is a crucial part of safely aging in place. Other sources of support in this decision might include a hospital social worker, a geriatric care manager (also known as an
也许在这个问题上听从权威人士的意见会有所帮助。和他们的医生谈谈你的观察。一个理解和分享你的担忧的医生会强调在家接受帮助是在家安全老化的关键部分。这个决定的其他支持来源可能包括医院的社会工作者，老年护理经理(也被称为Aging Life Care Professional 老年护理专业人士), a respected friend or an Area Agency on Aging community representative. These individuals can serve as a neutral third party and more effectively present the )、受人尊敬的朋友或老龄问题地区机构的社区代表。这些个人可以作为一个中立的第三方，更有效地呈现benefits of hiring home care 雇佣家庭护理的好处.
Hiring Help at Home: What’s Next? 在家里雇佣帮手: 下一步是什么？
Hiring a home care company is the next step in helping a loved one remain safe, healthy and happy at home. You can choose non-medical home care or home health care, depending on a senior’s unique and changing needs. Best of all, these services are delivered in the comfort of a client’s own home.
雇一家家庭护理公司是帮助爱人在家里保持安全、健康和快乐的下一步。您可以选择非医疗家庭护理或家庭卫生保健，根据老年人的独特和不断变化的需求。最重要的是，这些服务都是在客户自己家里舒适地提供的。
Read: The Difference Between Home Health Care and Non-Medical Home Care Services
阅读: 家庭保健和非医疗家庭护理服务的区别
Use the guide below to help you select the home care company or home health care provider that fits your needs and budget. Assure your loved one that they will be able to participate throughout the process of interviewing potential providers, deciding which company to hire and selecting home health aides. This involvement will help them retain a sense of control over their situation and feel more comfortable when the services actually begin.
使用下面的指南来帮助您选择适合您的需要和预算的家庭护理公司或家庭健康护理提供者。向你所爱的人保证，他们将能够参与面试潜在供应商的整个过程，决定雇佣哪家公司和选择家庭健康助手。这种参与将帮助他们保持对自己处境的控制感，并在服务真正开始时感到更加舒适。
Read: How to Select a Home Care Company
阅读：如何选择家庭护理公司
Caring for aging adults will always pose challenges and tough choices regarding their safety and independence. Fortunately, there are many resources available that can enable you to make confident caregiving decisions that support both you and your loved one.
照顾老年人总是会对他们的安全和独立性带来挑战和艰难的选择。幸运的是，有许多可用的资源，可以让你做出自信的照顾决定，支持你和你所爱的人。
