Top Clues Your Aging Parents Need Help
Life is busy. Many of us are raising children, working full time, and tackling daily life obligations. When we have the opportunity to spend time with our parents, we are likely on-the-go then too. Our parents may be visiting while we are hosting a family get-together, cheering with us from the stands of a baseball diamond, or at a restaurant enjoying dinner with us on the outdoor patio. In this hustle-and-bustle of life, we can easily miss clues that our parents may need more help than before. Here are 5 clues your aging parents may need help.
Bills Are Late or Not Getting Paid
Our elderly parents may develop more difficulty with cognitive skills such as multitasking and planning to pay bills on time. Also, calculating the math for bill payments may grow more complicated, resulting in overdrafts from accounts. Adult children may need to provide a more significant amount of financial oversight and assistance.
The House is Falling into Disrepair
Some elderly parents are afraid to let repair people into the home, and rightfully so. Therefore, repairs do not get completed. In other cases, obtaining quotes and coordinating a repair may be too overwhelming, so it goes undone. Repairs are expensive, so a shortage of financial resources may limit repair work. The home may become very disorganized and cluttered, causing trip and fall risks. Other health hazards can result from a house falling into disrepair, such as loose railings or stairs, continuous leaks that can lead to the development of respiratory illness due to the growth of black mold, or rodent infestations that go unchecked.
The Refrigerator and Pantry are Empty
Driving to the store and shopping for groceries can be a big job for some of our parents. Shopping demands a lot of endurance, strength, and mobility by the time our senior parent gets ready to leave the house, drives to the store, walks throughout the store, loads groceries, carries them into the house, and puts them all away. Some of our parents are not familiar enough with a computer to order groceries online. Finances may again be a factor here.
There is a Noticeable Difference in Appearance and Hygiene
A decline in physical or cognitive abilities may result in a change in appearance and hygiene, as evidenced by difficulty with the following tasks: washing clothes, showering, oral health, and grooming. Due to a decline in balance and endurance, carrying a clothes basket, folding clothes, or hanging clothes may be too challenging. Showering and grooming can feel exhausting. A senior parent at the beginning stages of dementia may forget how to start the washing machine, where to add detergent, and may not realize they have not showered for several days. Cognitive challenges can also cause a decline in the ability to perceive outward appearance, so they may not know they appear unkempt. An observable weight gain or weight loss may be a sign of improper nutrition.
Medication Mismanagement
A health scare can occur if senior parents take their medication improperly. For example, if the doctor prescribes blood-thinning medicines and a parent takes too much, a small abrasion can cause substantial blood loss. Too much blood thinner can create a condition as severe as a stroke. If our parent misses the blood thinner, another type of stroke caused by a blood clot can result. Blood pressure medication mishaps can also create a medical event such as a stroke or fainting. Often, these medication mix-ups reveal themselves when our parent goes into the doctor's office for a blood test, and the results return with incorrect levels of medication in the system. Your senior parent may need assistance with medication management.
As the children of senior parents, it is critical to keep our eyes open for changes. Most of the time, these changes may be small and occur slowly. And given the fast pace of life, these small changes across time can be even easier to miss.
Visiting Angels Canton is the premier senior in-home care provider in Canton, OH, and surrounding areas. We are experts at knowing what seniors need and how to meet the needs of the whole person physically, cognitively, and emotionally. If you have concerns that your senior parent may be struggling at home, call us at 330-497-5995 or contact us online today. We provide a no-obligation, free consultation to educate you about our services and how we can customize our services to meet your parent's needs.