Children of senior parents may have a difficult time determining if their parent needs additional help. Parents may be reluctant to share their daily struggles with their children because they are embarrassed or feel they may be a burden. In other cases, seniors may not even realize they are struggling. If you are concerned your senior parent may be having issues, but you know he is not ready to live in a care facility, consider hiring a home caregiver. Seniors living in California can call on the services of Sequoia Senior Solutions for help with day-to-day life in their home. If you are a child of a senior parent and you suspect they could use some additional help, consider the following signs:
10. The next time you are visiting with your parent, observe the condition of his home. While casual clutter may be a sign of a perfectly happy home, dust and dirt may signal a bigger problem. Dusty areas may mean cleaning is a challenge. Are there other unclean areas of the home, like floors, stairways, and old spills? All these factors may indicate your parent needs help around the house.
9. Peek in the refrigerator and check the condition of the food. Has anything spoiled? Is the home lacking in groceries? A neglected refrigerator may indicate a variety of problems. Your senior parent may have a tough time cleaning it out, he may be having difficult getting to the grocery store or carrying groceries inside, or absentmindedness may be causing of these issues.
8. Check the mail. Unpaid bills and a build up of junk mail may be a sign your senior parent is overwhelmed, or forgetting to take care of household administrative tasks. If your parent is suffering from dementia, it may mean he is forgetting to take care of important business. Caregivers can help organize and keep track of mail. If you are concerned about outsiders helping with personal finances, they can handle other tasks, allowing your parent to feel less overwhelmed. If someone else is handling grocery shopping and doctor’s appointments, your senior can remember to pay the electric bill.
7. Have a look under the sinks and in medicine cabinets. Ensuring your senior parents can read labels of household products and medications, and ensuring they are taking necessary medications is an important part of protecting their safety and keeping them healthy. It is important if a senior is unable to handle health issues such as these, they need support on a daily basis.
6. Observe your parent’s appearance. Is he having a difficult time keeping up with personal hygiene? Do you often see him in the same outfit? This may mean doing laundry is a difficult task, or it may mean they are neglecting their appearance and hygiene. They may also be concerned about their safety while bathing or showering. Speak to them about their concerns and determine the cause of the problem. This can help the two of you best solve the problem.
5. Speak with your parent’s neighbors and friends about their habits and daily routines. Find out if things seem to be in order or if they have noticed changes in schedules or long periods of time spent alone in their home. Seniors need companionship and if they are depressed, they may be spending more time at home, away from people.
4. If you suspect your senior parent may be suffering from dementia or memory loss, have a look at the bottoms of their pots and pans. If the bottoms are burned, it may indicate that tasks like heating things on the stove are going unsupervised during bouts of dementia. This can be dangerous and you should take action as soon as possible to get your parent the help they need.
3. Has your senior parent missed doctor’s appointments recently? This may indicate they do not have appropriate transportation, they may not be willing to face impending health problems, or they may be suffering from memory loss and have forgotten the appointments. One of the most common ways a caregiver helps a senior is ensuring he gets to his doctor’s appointments.
2. Have you received phone calls from your senior parent at unusual hours? This may indicate he is confused or lonely. It may be a way for him to tell you there may be a problem like depression, even if he is unwilling to say it outright. A visit from a caregiver can help them with confusion and provide companionship, as can participating in activities at a senior center or scheduling additional visits with family members.
1. Is your senior parent showing signs of depression? As people age, they may feel lonely and isolated. Spouses, family member, and friends may suffer heath problems or drift away. These life changes remind seniors of their own mortality, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. Keeping your senior parent active can help ward off depression. Do not feel as if you have to handle this all on your own. Sequoia Senior Solutions offers the in-home support your parent needs.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
