The holidays are a great time to reconnect with your parents and catch up. They can also be an opportunity to check their home and see if they’re really doing as well as they seem to be.
When older people are struggling to manage their everyday life, there are often signs if you know what to look for. By looking out for certain changes to your parents’ home, appearance and way of doing things, you might be able to recognize a few of the 10 signs your elderly parent needs help and get them the support they need.
The Top 10 Signs Your Elderly Parent Needs Help
Any of these issues may be a sign that your parent could use senior home care assistance. An important thing to ask yourself is, “Is this unusual?” For example, a little clutter may be par for the course for some seniors, but an early warning sign in the home of someone who was previously fastidiously tidy.
- Expired or Disorganized Medications Are their medications strewn around the house? Do they have expired medications? If so, they might not be taking their medications properly—or at all.
Disorganized pills are an important sign that something might be amiss. Taking medications incorrectly or missing them can be dangerous. Even if there’s no immediate harm, it tends to make existing issues snowball.
If you’re worried your parent might not be taking their medications correctly, consider getting them help from a professional caregiver. Caregivers can help older people take medications properly and on schedule, so you don’t have to wonder if they’re getting their treatments.
- Changes in Personal Hygiene Has there been a noticeable change in your mom or dad’s personal hygiene? Are they taking care of their hair, face and body? Do they look or smell differently than they used to?
Personal hygiene requires a surprising amount of management and coordination, so it’s often the first thing to slip when seniors are struggling. Elderly hygiene issues, especially new ones, may be a sign that they need a little everyday help.
- Changed Dressing Habits Have they started dressing differently than they used to? Are they wearing clothes strangely—wearing things that don’t match, layering incorrectly or failing to close buttons and zips properly? Are they wearing the same clothes for more than one day in a row?
Even if there’s nothing strictly wrong with an unusual outfit, it’s worth taking note of it. An out-of-character look could signal struggles with mobility or other activities of daily living.
- Unexpected Weight Loss As we age, it tends to get harder to eat enough. Aging reduces our appetite, but it doesn’t affect how much food we need. On top of that, certain medical conditions and medication side effects can make eating physically challenging. Even if your parent has a healthy appetite, cooking may take more energy and dexterity than they can manage.
That’s why when seniors are struggling with daily life, they may lose weight. If you come home to find your mom or dad looking thinner than you expected, it might be a sign that they need home care assistance.
- New Eating Habits Are their eating patterns different than before? Maybe they’re eating less than they used to, eating at unusual times or going for a narrower range of foods. Perhaps they’re eating out or getting prepared foods more frequently. Is their fridge bare, or full of expired foods?
While there’s nothing wrong with eating out now and then to get an easy, appetizing meal, if your parent is doing it on a regular basis, it might be because they’re struggling to cook or motivate themselves to eat. Some seniors have enough energy to cook a meal, then find they’re too tired to eat it once they’re done. If that’s the case, they may need a hand.
- Lots of Sticky Notes Are their cabinets covered in sticky notes they’ve left to remind them of important chores, dates, or other needs? We all write a note or two to keep track of important reminders, but when a home is full of those notes, it’s important to pay attention. This is often an early warning sign that they’re struggling with memory and could use some additional support.
- A Cluttered or Dirty Home Is your parents’ home dirtier and more cluttered than it was before? Are they keeping up with essentials like dishes and laundry? When was the last time they cleaned the sheets?
A messy home might be a sign that they need a caregiver to help with activities of daily living. It’s especially important to keep a discreet eye out for carpet stains, especially between your parents’ bathroom and bedroom. These can be a sign that they’re having mobility issues or other medical problems.
- Signs of Disrepair Are there signs of disrepair that weren’t there before, such as drafts, flickering lights or loose floorboards? These are all hints that your parent might not be keeping up with home maintenance, and they can lead to bigger problems like injuries from falls.
Try to fix what you can while you’re there and offer to help them call a handyman for the bigger jobs. A good caregiver can also help them find and book local repair services, so you don’t have to worry while you’re out of town.
- Stacks of Mail or Unpaid Bills Are there stacks of piled-up mail on the kitchen or dining room table, especially bills? This can be a sign of issues like reduced energy and coordination, but it’s most common with memory loss.
This is one area where it’s best to address the symptom first. A backlog of mail can lead to missed bills and financial issues, so try offering to help your parent go through it before asking them if they might need day-to-day help.
- Confusion Is your mom or dad getting confused or frustrated in situations that they used to manage easily? This may be an early sign of dementia, Alzheimer’s or another form of memory loss.
If your parent is getting confused often, they may benefit from help in their daily life. Consider looking into dementia care home services to get them the support they need.
How to Get Help for an Elderly Parent
If you notice significant changes in your parent’s appetite, behavior, hygiene or home management during the holidays, it may be a signal that they’re struggling. A little help with the daily tasks they struggle with may be just what they need to keep thriving as they age.
If an elderly loved one could use a little assistance with everyday living, never fear: The compassionate caregivers at FirstLight Home Care are here for them. They can help with nearly any non-medical task, from cooking and bathing to dressing and transportation. They also work to form a deep, genuine connection with lonely elderly clients, adding warmth and joy to their daily life.
Want to learn more about how our caregivers can help? Contact us to explore your options.