10 Signs Aging Parents Need Help
Because the aging process is one of gradual change, the hardest part of helping
can be knowing exactly when to step in. So how can you determine the right time to
arrange for some additional support?
The next time you visit, look for some of these clear warning signs that intervention
may be needed:
1. Mail and bills are left to pile up. 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. Doing laundry may have
become too physically challenging, especially if the machines are in the basement.
Other personal hygiene issues may indicate a fear of falling in the tub or shower.
6. Missed doctor’s appointments. The solution here may be as simple as having
adequate transportation or knowing how to access available resources.
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. Make a difference with daily “check-in” calls, regular
volunteer visitors or encouraging involvement with a senior center.
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.
If you’ve noticed some of these signs and feel that now is the time to act, don’t
forget that resistance to change is common and especially so among seniors.
That’s where a Geriatric Care Manager can help. They know what to do for your
loved one and can navigate difficult transitions with an objective view of what’s
best for all.
Original concept from Lenore Borowski, a geriatric care manager for
Senior Horizons, a private-pay program of the Jewish Family and Children’s
Service of Greater Philadelphia.
