Four Obvious Signs Your Aging Parents Need More Help at Home

Nobody likes to see a loved one age and lose their independence, especially if that aging loved one happens to be one of your parents. After all, our parents were the ones who guided us through life and were there to encourage, assist, and lend a listening ear. To see a parent, or both parents, begin to show signs of older age is difficult for any child. It’s a constant reminder that our time with them is limited.

At the same time, some seniors are thriving even in their older age. They may move slower and have memory lapses from time to time, but overall, their health is faring well. Yet, because they aren’t aging as we expected, or we fear for their safety, adult children can interfere unnecessarily in their aging parents’ lives.

Knowing when an aging loved one needs more help at home can be difficult to discern. Adult children who live nearby and see their parents frequently might miss the obvious signs their parents need more help. In the same regard, those that live far and aren’t able to physically see their aging loved ones often can too miss the obvious signs their loved one needs more help. If you have an aging parent or loved one that you are concerned about and aren’t sure whether or not they need more help at home, here are four obvious signs to look for.

Disheveled Appearance

The first obvious sign your aging parents need more help at home is reflected in their appearance. Take the time to look at your aging loved one. Have they brushed their hair or teeth? Do you notice any body odor? Have they always kept a cleanly shaved face and are now growing stubble? Are they wearing clean clothes? If they are looking more unkempt than usual, it could be that they need help with grooming.

Unusually Messy Home

Another sign that your aging parents need more help at home is reflected in their environment. Does it appear that they are having a difficult time keeping up with home maintenance? How does their yard look? How does their home smell? Have they always kept a tidy home and now you notice piles accumulating throughout the home, such as laundry, mail, or discarded projects? Is there dust built up or dirty dishes piled high in the sink? If you’ve noticed that your aging loved one’s home seems messier than usual, it could be that they need more help with maintaining their household.

Financial Mistakes

Although it can be a touchy subject, it’s important to know how your parents are handling their finances. You can subtly take note of their finances by looking for past-due bill notices or stacks of unopened bills or bank statements. Another place to look is their checkbook. If you notice that they are having trouble balancing numbers, it could be a sign of early cognitive impairment. It’s important to note that if they could never balance their checkbook, then it’s unrealistic for them to keep it balanced now. If they mention responding to fraud email or phone scams, it’s definitely a sign they need more help at home.

Increase in Memory Lapses

An obvious sign that your aging parents need more help with home is reflected in their memory. Have you noticed an increase in memory lapses over time? Do they repeat themselves more frequently than usual? Are they forgetting about routine appointments or showing up on the wrong days? Have they missed plans with you or forgotten you were stopping by? While some memory lapses are a normal part of aging, frequent memory lapses could be a sign that they need more help at home.

It can be difficult to discern whether or not your aging parents or loved one needs more help at home. Fortunately, you do not need to navigate this journey alone. Visiting Angels Jenkintown is here to support families as they look into senior home care companies. As a part of our free consultation, we assess potential clients to determine which of our services would be best suited for their situation. Whether your aging loved one needs a little help from time to time, or needs more consistent help throughout the week, we are here for you. If you do think it’s time for more help, please don’t wait any longer to arrange the help your aging loved one needs in order to thrive at home. Please contact us today by calling 215-938-7201.