Signs Your Loved One Needs Help

It can be challenging for children  with  seniors' parents  to assess if they require extra assistance.  Seniors may hesitate to disclose their daily challenges due to embarrassment or fear of becoming a burden for their loved ones. Also, some seniors may not even recognize that they are facing difficulties. 

If you are worried about a loved one’s well-being but they are not ready for a Long Term Care facility, consider using a reputable In-home Care agency. A parent or loved one with dementia or depression may be neglecting important business matter or becoming vulnerable victims to financial scams

Children of senior parents who suspect they may need some additional help might want to look out for the following signs:

10. Peek in the refrigerator and check the condition of the food. Is there any food that has spoiled? Is their home lacking in groceries? If your parents or grandparents refrigerator has been neglected, it may indicate a range of problems.  Your loved ones might struggle to clean it out, have difficulty going to the grocery store or carrying groceries inside, or be experiencing memory loss affecting these tasks.

9.  Have a look under the sink and in the medicine cabinets. Ensuring your loved ones can read labels of household products and medications. By ensuring that your senior parents are taking the correct medications is crucial for their safety and overall health. If your loved ones are unable to manage their health independently, it is likely that they require daily support. 

8.  Observe your parent’s appearance. Are they having a difficult time keeping up with personal  hygiene? Do you often see them in the same outfit? It is important to address concerns or difficulties someone may have with their personal hygiene or safety. This may include tasks such as doing laundry or bathing. These challenges can lead to a loss of confidence or limited mobility. By having conversations with your loved ones, you can better understand the cause of the problem and work together to find a solution.

7. The next time you are visiting with your parents, observe the condition of their home.  It is important to note that while casual clutter does not necessarily show a problem, dusty areas and unclean floors, stairways, and old spills might indicate that your parents could use some assistance with cleaning around the house.

6. Speak with your parent’s neighbors and friends about their habits and daily routines. If you are noticing any changes in their schedules or long periods of time alone at home, it may indicate that things are not in order. Seniors require companionship, and if they are showing signs of depression they may withdraw from social interactions and spend more time at home. It is  important to show love, support and understand during these times. 

5. If you suspect your senior parents may be suffering from dementia or memory loss, have a look at the bottoms of their pots and pans. If you are noticing that the bottoms of their pots and pans are frequently burned, it could be an indication that your parents are leaving things unattended on the stove due to dementia. This can be dangerous, it is important to take action quickly to ensure they receive the proper and necessary help and support. 

4. Have your elderly parents missed a doctor's appointment recently? There can be many different reasons why seniors miss their appointments. It could be due to a lack of transportation, reluctance to confront health issues or due to memory loss. Caregivers play an important role in assisting seniors by ensuring they attend their appointments. 

3. Have you received a phone call from your senior parents at unusual hours? If a loved one is showing signs of confusion or loneliness, it may be an indication that they are experiencing some difficulties. It is possible they may be dealing with depression, even if they are not directly expressing it. In these cases, having a caregiver visit them can be beneficial in terms of providing support and companionship. Additionally, participating in activities at a senior center or having more family members visit to help alleviate these feelings.

2. Check the mail. Unpaid bills and build up of junk mail may be a sign of your senior parents being overwhelmed, or forgetting to take care of  household administrative tasks. If your loved ones are suffering from dementia, it may lead to them forgetting to take care of important financial tasks. However, caregivers can assist by organizing and keeping track of mail. If you have concerns about outsiders helping the personal finances, you can assign caregivers to handle other tasks, which may help your parents feel less overwhelmed. By having someone handle grocery shopping  and doctor’s appointments, your senior parents may be more likely to remember to pay the hydro bill. 

1.Are your elderly parents showing signs of depression?  As our parents age, they may experience feelings of loneliness and isolation due to various factors such as health problems and drifting relationships . Those changes can be a reminder of their own mortality, leading to feelings of despair and hopelessness. By keeping our loved ones active can help prevent depression. It is important to remember that you do not have to deal with this all alone. A reputable In-Home Care agency can provide you with the necessary in-home support that your parents need. 

Depression is a prevalent condition among older individuals, causing significant distress and impairing their quality of life. Signs for depression in seniors can vary, but common symptoms due include persistent sadness, loss of interests in activities, change in appetite and sleep patterns, feeling of worthlessness or guilt and having difficulty concentrating. Additionally, physical symptoms such as fatigue, aches and pains, also having digestive issues. It is important to recognize and address depression issues in our loved ones. Seeking professional help and providing support and understanding are essential in managing this debilitating disease among seniors. 

For more information on signs to look for, please contact Amy’s Helping Hands at 519-915-4370 or visit our website at amyshelpinghands.ca to learn more about the care provided by our experienced caregivers.