Page 4 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - April 2017 - 24-04

Page 4 Senior Times - April 2017
INDEPENDENT LIVING SAFETY CONCERNS
The reality is that, as we age, we become less independent than we once were –
but for most blessed with longevity, it’s inevitable. Adult caregivers struggle with determining if their parent is fit to remain living alone. It’s a difficult, multi-faceted decision not to be made lightly as there
is much at stake – both the physical and emotional well being of the parent in question and for the extended family at large.
Peace of mind is something that the adult child searches for as they decide to start the conversation with their parent about new living options.
Keep a keen eye to discern if the clutter and filth is getting worse with each visit - it’s often a key sign they are having difficulty keeping up with activities of daily living.
Your parent may actually have an active social life and is more concerned with staying busy than tidying up. But, it could be a more ominous sign that your parent is having a difficult time keeping up with all the chores. They may feel overwhelmed or their physical health is slowing him down. Ask your parent if help is needed with the clutter, but do it in a nonchalant way that could prompt a conversation indicating assistance is needed here.
The bills and other mail are piling up.
This is a sign that your older parent could
be getting overwhelmed and not able to manage their daily affairs. This may also indicate some signs of forgetfulness and memory issues. Often, especially if a parent is alone without a spouse, they may not have someone to remind them to go through the mail and check to see if it’s time to pay certain bills.
The checking account balance is wrong and bills are going unpaid. These are signs that your parent is having memory issues or difficulty with simple math cognition. It can also indicate a general apathy.
Your parent is losing a lot of weight.
A parent who may have lost their partner or who is generally depressed often loses interest in eating due to a reduced appetite. Check their refrigerator and pantry to see if there is an appropriate supply of food and that what is there is fresh and edible. If the cupboard is bare and your parent’s frame is shrinking, living alone might become problematic. At the very least, you may want to think about bringing groceries by or looking into a service that offers prepared meal delivery.
They have neglected the basics of hygiene. Wearing the same clothing repeatedly or a lack of cleanliness can indicate they have lost the motivation, ability and/or forethought to look after themself. They may no longer care that personal hygiene and cleanliness is
an important part of daily living and maintaining one’s good health.
They appear in inappropriate clothing such as summer clothing in the dead of winter or leaves the house in a nightgown and slippers for a trip to the store. This may indicate confusion or the loss of discretion in social situations.
There are signs of forgetfulness in
the home. Confusion that shows up in the kitchen can prove to be deadly if not dealt with quickly from fires to inadequate food storage that can lead to illness.
Your parent regularly misses appointments and other important items. Forgetfulness, absentmindedness and memory issues may show up when it comes to keeping certain appointments, recognizing key dates, or, even more importantly, maintaining medication dosages on schedule.
They are just acting plain unusual.
This is always the sign that families dread the most. Unfortunately, between aging, mental degradation and the side effects from medication, you may note that your parent’s behavior has taken an odd turn for the worse. If you see signs of paranoia, fear, strange phone calls and conversations and nervousness, this should not be overlooked, as it’s a blatant sign that living assistance
is in order.
They exhibit signs of depression.
You may notice a loss of interest in
caring for one’s self as well as a lack of participation in socialization and in once- loved hobbies. Sometimes, depression comes from a sense of loneliness or the realization that they can no longer do things for themselves. Putting them somewhere that offers assistance, socialization and activities can help cure the loneliness and put them back on track to a more fulfilling, active
and engaged life.
If any of the above signs become prominent it is time to seek additional assistance, either in the home, or by moving to a local senior community. A change in environment might be just what your loved one needs to thrive once again and to give you the peace of mind that you helped them to make a good decision for their well-being.
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