SIGNS YOUR ELDERLY PARENTS MAY NEED HELP
Many families live apart and do not have the opportunity to visit with each other in person often. When you talk by phone mom and dad sound fine and say they are doing well. However, when you visit this holiday season you may notice changes that could be easily dismissed by an outsider. As a family member, however, you may recognize these “red flags,” which suggest that your parents may need help with everyday activities and household chores.
A change in behavior can serve as a warning sign that your parents are not thinking in the same manner as they once did or are not as physically capable of completing simple tasks as they once were. The following are examples of the changes you may observe:
1. Mail and bills are left to pile up; unpaid bills. The simple act of opening and filing mail can become overwhelming. Managing a checking account can also be too much to handle.
2. The house is cluttered or unkempt. Especially troubling if the individual has always been neat and orderly.
3. Food in the refrigerator is uneaten or spoiled. Shopping, cooking, and cleaning become difficult. A person might be eating enough to survive, but suffering nutritionally. Losing weight is another sign that your parent may need help with their diet.
4. Scorching on the bottoms of pots and pans. A result of short-term memory loss, this is a dangerous sign that parents are forgetting about things left on the stove. This fire hazard threatens their safety as well as their neighbors’.
5. Wearing the same clothing over and over again, body odor, unkempt hair and nails. Doing laundry may have become too physically challenging. Other personal hygiene issues may indicate a fear of falling in the tub or shower, or short term memory loss.
6. Missed doctor’s appointments.
7. Repeated phone calls at odd hours. Calls to friends and family at odd hours may be a sign of memory loss or a cry for help. They could also indicate feelings of depression or isolation.
8. Forgetting to take medication. Another sign of short-term memory loss or depression, this serious risk factor is more than just a quality of life issue.
9. Inappropriate behavior, clothing or speech. Reported by a neighbor or someone else close, things like dressing inappropriately for the weather may be a sign that your parent is experiencing confusion.
10. Symptoms of depression. This is a common problem for many older people who feel isolated and alone. Depression causes marked changes in behavior and routine that can include feelings of hopelessness or despair, lack of interest in once pleasurable activities, crying, listlessness and preferring not to get dressed.
11. Increased problems with driving like traffic citations, dents and scratches on the car, or getting lost in familiar areas.
By noticing these changes early on, you will be able to take a proactive approach in getting your parents the assistance needed to continue living as independently as possible while maintaining a high quality of life. If you notice these changes and need advice or direction, please know that Bivens & Associates PLLC can provide comprehensive counsel which includes estate planning, long term care planning, and client care coordination services. We have all the legal tools and local resources available to help you help your parents.
