Five things to look for when visiting aging parents during holidays
Holiday visits home are the perfect time to reconnect with loved ones, make new memories, and, for families with miles between them, check in on aging parents to see how they’re managing on their own.
“Adult children want what’s best for their loved ones and do what they can to provide emotional, financial, and social support,” said Laura Wolst, a senior living expert at Sunrise of Westmont. “Phone and video check-ins are great, but some assessments and discussions need to happen in person. The holidays are a perfect time for a discreet home wellness check.”
How do we know it’s time to get help from a home care agency or consider moving a loved one to a senior living community?
According to Wolst, this most often asked question by adult children can be answered during a holiday visit. Any of the following signs may indicate that a loved one needs assistance:
1. Unexplained weight change: Unintentionally gaining or losing a significant amount of weight is an issue that needs to be discussed. While it can be a sign of a poor diet, unexplained weight change in a senior can also signal a health condition. Depression, cancer, dementia, and gastrointestinal problems are some examples.
A change in weight may also be the result of arthritis or Parkinson’s, which can make meal preparation challenging.
2. Lack of personal hygiene: Has a parent become less particular about their appearance than in the past? A hug is an easy way to spot changes in hygiene. Body odor, untidy hair, and clothing inappropriate for the time of day or weather may be signs a senior is struggling to care for themselves.
3. Problems with balance: Falls continue to be a leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among seniors. Pay attention to how well your loved one navigates at home and in public. Do they avoid using the stairs? Are they spending a lot of time sitting? When they rise from a chair, do they seem unsteady? Bumps and bruises may indicate they’re experiencing falls and not telling you.
4. Change in disposition: If your loved one has always been upbeat but now seems down or quick to anger, it’s another sign something might be wrong. Paranoia, tearfulness, and withdrawing from favorite hobbies and social groups can also be early indicators of dementia.
5. Neglecting home maintenance: There are other signs your loved one is struggling to keep up that are easy to overlook. Stacks of unopened mail on the counter or in the mailbox, untended plants, expired food in the refrigerator, and baskets full of dirty laundry. One to be especially concerned about is scorched cookware. This is often a red flag a senior is leaving the kitchen and forgetting something is cooking and is a very serious fire risk. This may also be an early warning sign for Alzheimer’s.
If you see any of these signs, it’s time to reevaluate your loved one’s current living situation. Talk with them about getting daily assistance or moving to a senior living community where they can get the daily support and care they need in a safe environment.
Sunrise of Westmont, Sunrise Senior Living’s newest community located at 407 W. 43rd St. in Westmont, offers assisted living, memory care and short-term stays. Visit https://www.sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/il/sunrise-of-westmont or call (630) 960-4400 for more information and resources.