The holidays are often a time for happy reunions with aging parents, in-laws, aunts and uncles, and others who you haven’t seen in months or perhaps even years. However, it is also a time to address concerns you might have about your loved ones as they age.
A free, objective and informational seminar will provide some insight on what to look for and how to have meaningful conversations about aging choices will be held on Tuesday, November 19th, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the education and training center of FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston, 109 – 123, 109 Highland Avenue, Suite 301, Needham, MA 02494 – next to Petco and directly across from Panera Bread. There is ample, free parking both in the front and rear of the office building. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
The educational session will be led by Wendy Adlerstein, LSW, who has more than 20 years of experience in working with seniors. She holds a B.A. from Clark University, in Psychology with a concentration in Sociology and Human Services. In addition to her Massachusetts License in Social Work, Wendy holds a Certificate in Gerontology from the Worcester Consortium Gerontology Program.
She is a member of the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA), formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. Finally, Wendy is a Certified Dementia Practitioner® in good standing from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.
A holiday visit is the perfect time to assess how your loved one is doing because you are able to look for visual clues indicating signs of decline that you would not be able to glean through a telephone call.
The seminar will outline the 10 signs to watch for. This interactive presentation also encourages participants to ask questions and provide their own anecdotes.
Family members are encouraged to watch for the 10 signs that are a cause for concern:
- Weight loss
- Not maintaining his/her personal appearance and hygiene
- Not remembering when to take medication and not knowing what condition each medication is treating
- Not eating nutritious meals or not eating at all
- Food in the refrigerator or on the shelves that is past its expiration date or molding
- Not maintaining the home by doing chores such as cleaning bathrooms, washing floors or regular vacuuming
- Not paying bills – unpaid or unopened piles of bills are a red flag
- Not taking proper care of a pet
- Avoiding or having difficulty ascending/descending steps
- Limiting contact with or lacking an interest in the outside world
A single, isolated sign doesn’t necessarily mean your loved one is in trouble. Sometimes you can just feel a change in a person even if you can’t articulate it. If there are numerous signs and you believe that your loved one may be having difficulty, you need to address it with your loved one and other close family members.
Please RSVP to the program by either calling the FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston office at 781-559-0220 or e-mailing [email protected].
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