As some people age, they need a certain amount of assistance. But it’s not always easy to accept this life change. If your parent is at home, how do you know if they need more assistance than they used to? After all, if your aging parent needs help, they are not likely to be the one to inform you. Very few people want to admit to needing additional help as they age. It makes them feel like they’re losing their independence and losing control.
Don’t get caught off guard. Things will only get complicated by a fall or an unexpected hospitalization. Try to head off any additional care assistance your aging parent needs before the situation becomes critical and/or immediate. How do you do that? Try to regularly monitor the mental and physical abilities of your parent. Encourage financial and legal planning. If an assisted living program or long-term care are better options, do your research.
Here, we’ll look at some signs that it might be time to consider finding assistance for your aging loved one – or providing it yourself.
Activities of Daily Living are Hard to Perform
Your loved one is having problems with the following:
- Eating
- Transferring or walking
- Continence/toileting
- Dressing
- Grooming and bathing
Change in Mental Status and Behavior
The following might point to a change in mental status:
- Sleep pattern change
- Physically or verbally abusive
- Increased agitation
- Extreme mood swings or a general change in mood
- Stops returning phone calls
- Can’t keep track of time
- No longer interested in activities or hobbies
- Lacks motivation or drive
Changes in Appearance and Physical Function
Look for any of the following changes:
- Noticeable burns, wounds, bruises, etc.
- Poor oral hygiene, untrimmed nails, unkempt hair, etc.
- Poor personal hygiene
- Dressing inappropriately or wearing soiled clothes
- Unexplained weight loss
Change in Judgment, Memory, and Cognition
- Can’t recall the names of familiar objects or people
- Wearing the same clothes again and again/poor personal hygiene
- Change in behavior or personality
- Can’t seem to find the right words
- Can’t complete sentences
- Speech pattern becomes repetitive
- While driving or walking, they get lost a lot
- Familiar tasks can’t be performed as well
- Poor judgment is used over and over
- Reasoning skills are decreased
- Confusion is increased
- Forgetfulness
Household Responsibilities are Neglected
- Unfilled prescriptions
- Unsafe driving
- Outdoor areas look unkempt
- Burn marks on appliances or cookware
- House smells like urine
- Wet or stained carpet or furniture
- Low food supply/unhealthy food supply
- Spoiled food
- Unpaid bills
- Unopened mail
- Hoarding or extreme clutter
- Changes in normal organization or household cleanliness
- Can’t complete activities of daily living on their own
Get Your Parent or Loved One the Help They Need at The Park Oak Grove
Through the assisted living program at The Park Oak Grove, your loved one will get the help they need. At a certain point in the lives of some individuals, they end up needing a little more personal care than usual and someone to assist with housekeeping, medication management, grooming and bathing, etc. We are here to offer that assistance and professional care. But life here is so much more than that! With numerous socialization opportunities, chef-prepared meals served in a fine dining atmosphere, and many other programs, it’s more like living in a resort than in a senior living community.
For sales and leasing inquiries, please contact us at 540-348-2669. Any other questions can be asked of a representative by calling 540-989-9501. You can also use our convenient online form to open the lines of communication.
Best of all, you can set up a tour and bring your loved one with you so that, together, you can see all we have to offer.
