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Health & Fitness

When It's Time to Call for Help for Your Elderly Loved Ones

Unfortunately, I'm often called in to offer assistance after the crisis. There'll be a fall, a medication overdose or auto accident and everyone is in panic mode.

I suggest that adult children be proactive - that they set up care and assistance at the first sign that things aren't 100%.  These same adult children usually know it's time but resistance to assistance is common on the part of seniors.  And the conversation can be an uncomfortable one....so it is avoided.   

I've listed the Ten Signs of Trouble.  If your loved one is experiencing one of these, call before catastrophe occurs:

1.  Household Bills Piling Up.  Seniors can feel overwhelmed by the simple task of opening and responding to daily mail, paying bills, balancing checkbooks, etc. 

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2.  Reluctance to Leave the House.  Rather than ask for help, seniors who are having trouble with functions such as getting themselves ready to go out, walking, remembering, hearing or seeing will often pull away from the community and isolate themselves.  Depression can be the cause and it could be the result.  Socialization and keeping an active mind can also keep dementia symptoms at bay!

3.  Losing interest in meals.  Seniors who suddenly find themselves alone, perhaps after the death of a spouse, can be easily discouraged by such tasks as cooking and clean-up and tend to not eat properly.  This can cause or exacerbate physical problems.

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4.  Declining personal hygiene.  Changes in appearance, unkempt hair and body odor, failing to change clothes for days on end, or clothes inappropriate for the weather are among the most obvious signs that a senior needs assistance.  Fear of falling in the bathroom can keep a senior from bathing properly.  Lack of personal hygiene can result in urinary tract infections which have severe and often debilitating symptoms for older folks. 

5.  Declining driving skills.  Look for evidence of parking or speeding tickets, fender benders, dents and scratches on the car.  This is a difficult discussion because losing one's ability to drive (especially for men) can cause major depression.  It's important that your senior know that their lack of ability to drive doesn't mean they aren't mobile. Home Instead insists that all our CareGivers have clean, valid driver's licenses, reliable and safe transportation and appropriate insurance.  We take people as far as Florida and back!

6.  Scorched pots and pans.  Cookware left forgotten on top of an open flame may be a sign of short term memory loss or even Alzheimer's disease.  This can have deadly consequences!

7.  Signs of depression.  Feelings of hopelessness and despair, listlessness, fewer visits with friends and family, a change of sleeping patterns, and lack of interest in the usual hobbies and activities are all indicators of depression.  Studies have shown that having a relationship with a trusted caregiver can help ease these symptoms.  It's important to also see a healthcare provider as depression can be a symptom of many illnesses and it can be treated.

8.  Missed doctor's appointment and social engagements.  These can be signs of depression or forgetfulness. But this  can also be because of fear of going out, fear of driving, or of the senior's  inability to plan and manage their lives.

9.  Unkempt house.  Change in housekeeping may come about because of depression, illness or weakness or fatigue or again, the inability to plan and manage their home.

10. Losing track of medication.  This can be deadly!  Seniors often take multiple prescriptions for various health conditions.  Keeping track on their own can be confusing.

Having a CareGiver come in for just a few hours a week can make all the difference.  I'm an expert on "resistance to assistance."  Usually the reluctance is fear of losing one's independence.  I assure seniors that they'll probably be more independent than they've been in years!

The subject is often a difficult one for adult children to open with their parents. Call and I can give you some helpful opening tips.  215-766-1617. 

Pamela Eelman

Director of Community Relations

Home Instead Senior Care/ Plumsteadville

215-766-1617   www.homeinstead.com

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