At some point in many caregiving situations, a moment arises when you must consider whether it is still possible to leave the senior in your charge alone for an hour, an afternoon or an entire day. Will they be safe? Will they wander off? Will they let strangers into the house? Will they turn on the stove and forget to turn it off?

Making this decision can be a complicated and emotionally wrenching experience for both caregiver and senior. For caregivers, it can be heartbreaking to recognize that the strong, self-sufficient adult they have known for years is no longer capable of taking care of the most basic tasks.

It also means a real loss of freedom and flexibility and may require you to develop creative strategies to accomplish daily errands and tasks. For the senior, it can be equally difficult to acknowledge and accept that physical, emotional or mental changes have reduced their independence.

Checklist on being home alone

You have numerous factors to consider when making this determination. Because of the importance of balancing the safety of the senior with the need of both senior and caregiver to retain as much independence as possible, you should include as many people as you can in the decision-making. In addition to the senior, you might want to consult with other primary caregivers, such as family members and friends; paid caregivers who know the senior's abilities and limitations; and elder care professionals such as doctors, nurses, and social workers.

These questions can guide you in making the decision. If the answer to any of them is "no," it might be time to consider the possibility the senior should no longer be left alone even for a short period of time.

• Do they understand how to leave the home if necessary? Do they know where the door is located and how to exit the building?

• Will they stay home or near the house rather than wander off?

• If they go outside, do they know where they live and how to get back inside?

• Can they identify signals, such as smoke from the kitchen or fire alarms, that would alert them to potential dangers?

• Do they know how to access emergency services? Do they know how and when to dial 911? Would they be able to communicate over the phone? Can they physically get to a phone no matter where they are?

• Do they have frequent life-threatening medical emergencies that require immediate intervention? Do they know where any medication they might need is located? Can they reach it?

• Do they have the judgment to identify who they should and should not let into the home? Will they know to allow family, friends and emergency personnel into the home?

• Can they prepare themselves something to eat if they get hungry? Do they know how to use the stove, and will they remember to turn it off?

• Can they get to the bathroom and use the toilet on their own? If not, have alternatives been worked out?

• Are they afraid to be alone for an hour or more? Do they become clingy when caregivers depart and make frequent telephone calls if they are alone?

If you determine through this checklist and other means it is still safe to leave the senior at home alone, you should regularly reassess the situation. Caregiving is a dynamic process, and you need to be aware of any and all changes in the senior's condition and abilities. Even if you think the senior can be left home by themselves, pay attention to their desires; if they fear being alone, it is often a sign that at some level they know they are not capable of coping with any emergencies that might arise.

source: caregiverzone.com