It can be difficult to know how your senior parents are doing at home when you don’t live close by. Talking on the phone and video chatting is one thing, going home for the holidays gives you the opportunity to check in on their well-being as you catch up with everybody.
4 Signs that Your Senior Loved One May Need Help
Here are some subtle and not so-subtle signs that your parents might need some extra help to stay safe and healthy:
1. Does your parent’s car look damaged?
New dents on their cars or scrapes on garage walls may be signs of declining driving abilities. Try to ride during your stay with your parents to see how they’re driving now. Drifting across lanes, driving much slower than normal, and not turning to look while backing up are signs that driving is no longer safe.
Solutions: Research alternative transport options and discuss with other relatives their effectiveness. You should be prepared to have more than one conversation about scaling back or completely stopping driving with your loved one.
2. Is your parent’s pet okay?
Animals can be a great source of companionship, but as we age, caring for animals can get harder. If you find long claws and matted fur, a birdcage that is long overdue for a wash, or an overflowing litter box, your folks may have some pet care problems. It’s probably time for your loved one and their pets to get some support.
Solutions: Dog-walking services, mobile pet groomers and vets can take care of the check-ups and chores. This allows your parents to enjoy the company of their pet.
3. How clean is your parent’s home?
There’s no need for your parents to have a spotless house, particularly when they’ve been getting ready to host business. However, if their housekeeping has slipped significantly since your last visit, they might need some help to keep their home. Mildew and mold, pests and spoiled food are signs that your people need a different set of hands and eyes to keep their home safe and clean.
Solution: If there is no local family member who is able to help out and willing to do so, consider hiring a regular cleaning service or an in-home assistant. Help your parents get in touch with pest control, mold remediation, and other resources needed to turn their home into a healthy environment.
4. Do your parents look healthy?
The grooming standards of your senior parents during this visit should be about the same as the last time you saw them in person. The cause of noticeable changes in their appearance may be cognitive impairment or physical limitations. Checking for improvements like dirty clothing, dirty hair, and significant weight loss.
Solutions: Loss of memory can cause your parents to forget about bathing, changing clothes or eating. Mobility issues such as arthritis and neuropathy can make your parents ‘ daily activities too painful to handle on their own. Depending on the recommendations of your doctor, your parents may need an in-home assistant or a move to assisted living.
Fairmont Grand Senior Living Community
Fairmont Grand is a resident centered senior living and memory care facility in Rapid City, SD. Our goal is to create an environment where resident well-being is at the heart of everything we do.
Our wide range of services are designed to meet you or your loved one’s daily needs. We offer restaurant style dining options, a variety of physical activities, and give residents the opportunity to live as independently as possible.
If you or a loved one near Rapid City, South Dakota are considering assisted living or memory care, contact Fairmont Grand to learn more about individualized living options or tour our community.
