Your Maryland Home Care Resources
Beginning the home care journey can be quite overwhelming and can often leave families searching for resources and guidance. As a premier senior home care agency in Maryland, we are committed to helping you and your family find the resources you need to make informed decisions about your care. Contact us online or call us at 410-357-9643 to learn more about how we can help you.
Senior Care Resources Families Need
On this page, you will find helpful tips and community resources that can provide the information you need to make important care decisions.
Aging Care Advocates & Resources
- Baltimore County Department of Aging
- Baltimore Senior Services Group
- Greater Maryland Alzheimer’s Association
- Maryland Department of Aging
- Maryland Emergency Management Association
- Maryland Office of Attorney General
- Maryland Senior Resource Network
- National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials
- The Loyola Clinical Centers
- The Option Group
- The Penn FTD Center
- University of Maryland Memory Loss and Dementia Clinic
- YES! Inc
Plan Ahead for Your Care Wishes to Be Known
To make informed decisions about your treatment if you experience a life-threatening illness, consider obtaining an advance directive that allows your choices to be respected. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General provides information and advance directive forms here. Please also take note that if you call 911, Maryland Emergency Response Personnel will only honor the Maryland Medical Orders for Sustaining Treatment (MOSLT) form found here.
How to Know if an Older Adult Needs Care at Home
It can be difficult to discern whether an older adult needs care at home. Often, seniors recognize some of the signs themselves, but don’t share their feelings with family members for fear of losing independence. It’s important for loved ones to understand what warning signs indicate a need for an older adult to have help at home. If you notice the signs and symptoms below, it might be time to talk to your loved one about getting assistance at home from a trusted home care agency like Absolute Companion Care, providers of the senior care Towson MD families trust the most.
Physical Changes
- Decreased strength and mobility or balance problems
- Trouble moving from a seated to standing position
- Difficulty walking without assistance
- Weight loss, dry skin, and/or bruising
- Burns on the skin, which could be from cooking accidents
Housekeeping Changes
- Spoiled or expired food in the refrigerator
- Piles of dirty laundry and/or dirty dishes
- Burned pots and pans
- Odors in the home
- Carpet stains
- Unmaintained yard and home exterior
Mail Changes
- Unopened mail or unpaid bills
- An increase in junk mail that may indicate that the older adult is involved in a mail scam
Nutritional Changes
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Low food supply
- Lack of healthy food in the home
Hygiene Changes
- Unpleasant body odor
- Infrequent showering or bathing
- Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care
- Unkempt hair
- Untrimmed nails
- Lack of oral care
- Wearing dirty or stained clothing
Financial Changes
- Difficulty doing simple math such as balancing a checkbook
- Late payment notices, bounced checks, and/or calls from bill collectors
- Unexplained lack of or disappearance of money
- Consistent use of poor judgment such as falling for scams or sales pitches, giving away money, etc.
Memory and Mood Changes
- Difficulty keeping track of time
- Sleeping for most of the day
- Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
- Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
- Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
- Forgetfulness, including forgetting to take medications or taking incorrect dosages
- Missing important appointments
Driving Changes
- Unexplained dents or scratches on the car
- Forgetting directions to well-known places
- Confusion while driving
- Driving too slow or too fast
- Lack of alertness while driving
Additional Resources
These warning signs may indicate that senior home care is needed, and the dedicated caregivers at Absolute Companion Care are here to help. Contact us to learn more about one of the best home care agencies in Towson and the surrounding area.