Do Your Aging Parents Need More Help At Home?
Many adult children begin to grow concerned about their aging parents' welfare as they watch them grow older. It can be difficult to watch our aging loved ones slow down, experience memory lapses, or struggle with tasks that used to come easy to them. Before long, some adult children face the dilemma of whether or not their parents need more help at home.
Most older adults are reluctant to ask for more help, especially from their children. While every situation is certainly unique, there are a few signs that typically indicate an aging loved one needs more help at home. Here are a few common signs that might suggest your aging parents could benefit from more professional help at home.
Significant Changes in Mobility
Mobility, or the ability to move around, is necessary for older adults to engage in everyday life. Whether it's mobilizing from room to room around the home or maneuvering outside the home to pick up groceries, mobility plays an essential role in an older adult's life. Most older adults will notice a slight change in mobility as they age. However, significant mobility changes that impact their ability to run errands, socialize, or engage in favorite activities are not a normal part of aging. If you've noticed significant mobility changes in your aging parents, or they've experienced multiple falls, it could mean they need more help at home.
Noticeable Weight Loss or Gain
Another sign that it's time for more help at home is a noticeable weight loss or gain in your aging parents. Weight loss (or gain) that is unintentional and sudden could indicate an underlying health condition, including dementia or depression. Please take note of how your aging parents are looking and how their clothes fit them. If they've lost or gained more than ten pounds in a month, encourage them to schedule an appointment with their primary care physician. Then, make a plan to get the help they need at home.
Needing More Reminders
It's common for all adults to need an occasional reminder, including older adults. What isn't common is when older adults need constant reminders about regimented habits. Needing reminders to take routine prescription medications or frequently forgetting important dates, such as a birthday or anniversary, is not a normal part of aging. If you've noticed that your aging parents are becoming more and more forgetful, it could mean they need more help at home.
Loss of Interest in Favorite Hobbies
Another common sign that it's time for more help is a loss of interest in favorite hobbies. While it's normal for everyone to feel disinterested from time to time, not pulling oneself out of the rut can be concerning. Decreased interest in favorite pastimes can lead to increased isolation. It can also be a sign of depression. If your aging parents haven't expressed an interest in pursuing their favorite hobbies recently, it could be a sign that they need more help at home.
Neglectful Appearance
Finally, a big sign that your aging parents need more help at home is a neglectful appearance. This could include their physical appearance or their home as well. Examine your parents' appearance and pay attention to body odor. Does their hair look greasy or unkempt? Are their fingernails noticeably long or dirty? Are they wearing clean clothes? How does their home look—neat as usual or unusually messy? Is the laundry piled high, or do they have a lot of unopened mail? If your parents' appearance or home is unusually in disarray, it could indicate they need more help at home.
As you've read through the five common signs it's time for more professional help at home, perhaps you've just realized that your aging parents need more help than you initially thought. Visiting Angels Appleton is here for you. Our comprehensive home care is customized to each of our clients, based on their individual needs and preferences. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers have helped many seniors in the region live happily and safely in the comfort of their own homes, all while giving their families peace of mind. If you're ready to give your aging parents the professional help they need at home, please contact us today by calling 920-944-8000.