What to do when Care Needs change

Protecting Your Choices Updated April 23, 2026

What to do when Care Needs change

Change from aging is often portrayed as a series of small gradual declines but most of the time when someone has increasing care needs it is due to an unexpected health incident or progression of a chronic disease which may be accelerated by an injury or infection.  Health events and condition changes require solutions to provide the support that is needed in the least intrusive way to maintain as much independence as possible. The table below gives examples of Health Condition changes, resulting changes to Care Needs and their coinciding cost for private care.

Pro-tip: 

Gradual decline may be inevitable but slips, trips, falls and other injuries are not! Maintaining strength and avoiding serious injury are the best ways to avoid increasing care needs.

Health ChangePrimary care needMinimum supportMaximum support
Increasingly Hard of HearingIndividuals that are hard of hearing are generally capableNoneVisit(s) Weekly
Loneliness or isolationWeekly to Daily CompanionshipVisit(s) WeeklyVisit Daily
Anxiety or depressionWeekly to Daily Support with routines and companionshipVisit(s) WeeklyVisit Daily
Loss of driver's licenseWeekly to Daily Rides, accompaniment, shoppingVisit(s) WeeklyVisit Daily
Stroke (Mild Physical Impairment)Daily to Multiple Visits Daily Essential care activitiesVisit(s) WeeklyVisit Daily
Hygiene or self-care challengesWeekly to Daily Bathing and groomingVisit(s) WeeklyMultiple Visits Daily
Chronic pain that prevents activitiesWeekly Light housekeeping to Multiple Visits Daily Essential careDailyMultiple Visits Daily
Pressure sores and ulcersDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Positioning and wound supportDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Hip fractureDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Help with moving and recoveryDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Weight loss or poor appetiteDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Meal support and monitoringDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Unsafe use of kitchen appliancesDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Meal prep and monitoringDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Weak grip strengthDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Meal prep and household tasksDailyMultiple Daily Visits
IncontinenceDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Toileting and hygieneDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Increased fatigueDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Essential care activitiesDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Other fall-related injuryDaily to Multiple Visits Daily Rehab activitiesDailyMultiple Daily Visits
Short-term memory lossDaily Essential care to Live-in Continuous presence for safetyDailyLive-in
Very Low Vision to BlindDaily Essential care to Live-in Continuous presence for safetyDailyLive-in
FrailtyDaily Essential care to Live-in Essential care and mobility supportDailyLive-in
Progressive cognitive declineSupervision and personal careDailyLive-in
Dementia (mid-stage)Daily Essential care to Live-in Continuous presence for safetyDailyLive-in
Stroke (Serious Physical Impairment)Total care and transfersDailyLive-in
Breathing disease (for example COPD)Breathing and activity supportDailyLive-in
Multiple chronic conditionsCoordinated care managementDailyLive-in
Surgical recoveryTemporary care after surgeryDailyLive-in
Reduced mobility overallTransfers and repositioningDailyLive-in
Poor balanceWalking support, fall preventionMultiple Daily VisitsLive-in
Dementia (late-stage)Total care and monitoringMultiple Daily VisitsLive-in
Severe ArthritisDressing and personal care supportMultiple Daily VisitsLive-in
Terminal illnessComfort and end-of-life careMultiple Daily Visits24/7
Night confusionEvening or overnight supervisionDaily overnight24/7
Wandering behaviourLive-in Continuous presence for safetyLive-in24/7

Have questions about your care options? Our Coordination Team is ready to help.

Contact Us Call 250-658-6508