This holiday season when families are all together, you may notice differences in mom or dad. Aging is difficult to see—especially in those you love. What are the signs of normal aging . . . of Alzheimer’s and other dementia? Can your parents or loved ones care for themselves without help? What kind of help is best? Where can you go to get it? How can you tell if your loved ones need help (even when they insist they don’t)? And even more importantly, how can you talk to them about it?
Here are some indicators to watch for:
Weight loss
Are your loved ones eating? Missing meals can be a sign of depression or dementia. The most common reason, however, is that shopping for and preparing meals might just be too much for them to handle.
Poor hygiene
Does your loved one look disheveled? Is he or she wearing dirty clothes, skipping baths? Sometimes the fear of falling in the tub or shower can cause them to neglect their personal hygiene.
The decline in home appearance
What about their home? Are there piles of clutter? Dirty dishes, lots of laundries, unemptied trash, or spoiled food everywhere? If your former “neatnik” loved one is now living in clutter this is cause for concern.
Forgetfulness
Is your loved one often confused? Overdrawing bank accounts, missing bill payments? Do you often need to “redirect” them? This kind of cognitive decline can be
- Problems with medication management
- Mood swings
If you find yourself needing help with an aging loved one, we can help find you the resources you need in order to care for them.
- Care management and coordination
- Home care
- Assisted living and memory care
- Adult day programs
Want to get the conversation started? Connect with our team today that can help you navigate senior care options, resource and give your family support during this complicated journey.