No one knows your family like you do. Something unusual for them might be an everyday situation in another person’s home. When it comes to assisting aging parents or relatives, professionals urge you to note anything out of character.
Changes in behavior and daily living could indicate that they might need more help. While everyone is different, knowing common warning signs that your older loved ones might need more support is helpful.
Recognizing Changes in Aging Parents’ Behavior
It’s important to stay in contact with your parents and older relatives to ensure they are living safely and comfortably. However, it might be challenging to notice changes in behavior in your older loved ones, especially if you don’t live near them.
Whether you’re visiting in person, catching up on the phone, or video chatting, there are signals that your older family members might need additional assistance. These changes may be more noticeable when visiting in person.
For example, say you live further away from your older parents. You may recognize changes in their daily living habits when visiting them during the holidays that you cannot detect over the phone.
Changes in Mood or Behavior
Are your loved ones acting differently toward family, friends, or strangers? Have they started withdrawing from hobbies and activities they used to enjoy? Take note of mood swings, increased agitation, difficulty keeping track of time, or changes in their sleep patterns.
Financial Challenges
Are they having issues with late or missed payments, bounced checks, and calls from collections?
Neglecting Household Maintenance
Is the home cluttered, dirty, or disorganized? Is the yard unattended with trash piling up and weeding growing? Take note of tripping hazards like cluttered hallways, missing or broken handrails, and uneven flooring.
Poor Personal Hygiene
Are they struggling with daily activities like bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting? Are their clothes clean and suitable for the weather?
Weight Loss or Poor Nutritional Habits
Are they eating less or consuming only fast food or prepacked snacks? Are they drinking enough water? Is food on the counter collecting mold or spoiling in the fridge?
Difficulty with Balance
Do they have difficulty standing from a seated position? Are they using walls and furniture around the house for balance while walking? Do they have unexplained and more frequent bruises, scratches, or cuts?
Next Steps to Get Older Family Members Assistance
If you notice any of these signs, it is helpful to write down your concerns and take the following steps.
Involve the Rest of the Family
Voice your concerns with family members and explain to them why you feel this way. Many adult children provide caregiving duties for their parents. Communicating effectively with older adults is key to ensuring your loved ones are cared for in the way they wish.
If you and your siblings can help, it’s crucial to have conversations with your family to set expectations. From performing daily household tasks to managing finances, there are many ways families help one another and approach senior care as a team. Discover more about how to develop a plan of care as a family.
Consider Senior Care Options
Outside services are a great benefit when it comes to providing older loved ones with the assistance to age with dignity and grace. Many older adults wish to stay at home as long as possible.
Below are some senior services families use to relieve some of homeownership’s physical burdens and hassles.
- Assistance with daily living
- Transportation
- Home safety, including fall prevention and decluttering
- Medication management
- Light housekeeping
Researching Outside Senior Care Resources
If your loved ones need assistance, home caregivers can provide assistance to help them remain independent. Our team can also help families get in touch with additional senior care services through our professional network that can assist with household management, legal matters, payment, and more. For more information about senior resources, contact us.
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