You’ve always known that at some point, your parents will have to depend on you more.
Maybe, you’ve even prepared a checklist of questions to ask – you know, things like whether they would like to live in their house for as long as possible, or if they have advanced-care-planning documents, and so on.
If you haven’t had the talk with your parents, though, it’s important that you know when to step in. Sometimes, older adults don’t ask for help, and it’s up to you to find out whether your elderly loved ones need assistance.
To know when an aging parent needs support, here are some signs to watch out for.
1. A Dirty or Unmaintained House
Maintaining a clean home gets more difficult as one gets older. Your aging relative could have a hard time bending, or their eyesight may be failing.
If it’s the latter, your elderly loved one might not notice the spots they have to clean. It’s also possible that they have problems with mobility, and cleaning every corner of their home is just not possible anymore.
So the next time you visit your parents’ house, see if it looks different, or maybe even unrecognizable. You might also notice weird smells coming from their home, an unmaintained lawn, or trash piling up outside.
2. Unpaid Bills or Bills Being Paid Late
A pile of unpaid bills could also be one of the signs your parent needs help. It could be they’re struggling financially, or they’re becoming more forgetful.
If your parents need financial help, you have some options to consider. You can convince them to downsize, ask them to move in, or create a budget for them.
Now, if your parents are suffering from memory loss or a more serious condition such as Alzheimer’s, try looking into continuing care communities and other senior care options like assisted living, memory care, etc.
3. Physical Decline
Are you noticing weight loss or poor dieting habits? What about their personal hygiene? Do they wear the same clothes over and over?
Do you see unkempt hair, notice body odor, or poor oral hygiene? Aside from failing to take care of themselves, do they often get into accidents?
If your answers are mostly yes, then it’s time to intervene because these are signs an aging person has difficulty handling certain daily activities.
4. Having Trouble with Medication Compliance
Forgetting to take medication, as well as not knowing when to take meds or how many doses to take can be dangerous to your aging parent’s health. If they’re also missing appointments with their doctor, you should prepare to talk to them about it.
It’s also a good idea to convince them to assign a power of attorney for health care, or at the very least, ask them for permission so that you can talk to their doctor about their medical treatment.
Other Signs an Aging Parent Needs Help
Aside from the ones already mentioned, some other signs to look out for include loss of interest in doing activities they used to enjoy, extreme mood swings, and not making sound decisions.
The last one is quite important because if they’re becoming a danger to themselves or to others, you have to think about putting your parent into a home or exploring other care options.
Give Your Parents the Best Care
Now that you know some of the signs an aging parent needs assistance, how do you plan to support your parents?
If you need more tips and advice on helping your elderly loved ones, feel free to check out our other posts.
