10 Signs Indicating an Aging Loved One May Need Help

1. Mail and bills are left to pile up. The simple act of opening and filing mail becomes overwhelming.

Managing a checking account can also become too much for a parent to handle.

2. The house is cluttered or unkempt. This is especially troubling if a parent has always been neat and orderly.

3. Food in the refrigerator is uneaten or spoiled. Shopping, cooking, and cleaning become too much trouble.

A parent might eat just enough to get by, but suffer nutritionally. Losing weight can be another sign that a parent is not eating a nutritious diet.

4. Signs of 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 pots left on the stove, causing a fire hazard, and threatening both the

individual's and the surrounding neighbor's safety.

5. The parent wears the same clothing over and over again and has other personal hygiene issues. Doing

laundry has become physically challenging, particularly if the washing machine is in the basement. Or there

may be a fear of falling in the tub or shower.

6. Missed doctor's appointments. Sometimes this is simply a product of not having transportation and not

knowing how to access ride options.

7. Repeated phone calls at odd hours. When a parent telephones friends or family at odd hours, it may be a

sign of memory loss, or a cry for help-- a sign of depression or isolation. Arranging for a daily check-in phone

call, a regular volunteer visitor, or getting involved with a local senior center, could make all the difference.

8. Forgetting to take medication. A sign of short-term memory loss or depression, this isn't just a quality of

life issue, but a real risk factor.

9. Inappropriate behavior, clothing or speech. You may hear about this from a neighbor, someone who has

noticed that your parent is not dressing appropriately for the weather, for instance. That's a sign that he or she

might be confused.

10. Symptoms of depression. A frequent problem for many older people, who feel isolated and alone, like a

prisoner in their own homes, depression causes marked changes in behavior and routine. Feelings of

hopelessness, lack of interest in once pleasurable activities, crying, listlessness, and not wanting to get dressed

can all be indications of a problem.
Next Steps

Once adult children decide that a parent needs assistance, the next step is determining what kind. The

following are a few options to consider:

1) Geriatric Care Managers - These highly trained professionals can assist in determining the appropriate type

of care. They are generally licensed nurses or social workers that specialize in geriatrics. To locate a care

manager contact the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

2) Emergency Response Devices - Almost 5,000 seniors die from falls in the home. Investing in a home

emergency response device can offer everyone peace of mind.

3) Non-Medical In-Home Care - Services range from companionship, light housekeeping, grocery shopping,

meal preparation, bill paying, and transportation to appointments. Assistance with bathing, dressing,

grooming, and toileting are also provided. Most are bonded and insured and perform multiple background

checks on caregivers.

4) Tax Credit Senior Apartment Communities - Unlike most publicly subsidized housing programs designed

to assist the elderly, the housing tax credit program does not provide tenants with governmental rent subsidies,

but rather provides for a more affordable monthly rental rate. The advertised term "affordable" is the term to

look for. Income restrictions apply.

5) Residential Care Assisted Living Homes - Offer a more home-like setting than nursing homes. They

typically provide meals, laundry, housekeeping, medication supervision, assistance with activities of daily

living (for most types) and an activity program. Other amenities such as transportation may also be offered in

some facilities.

reprinted from Liv Home