During the holiday season most adult children pay their elderly parents a visit. But while most adult children are often overjoyed to connect with their aging parents after months of being busy, some forget to see changes in their lives.
Some of these changes can be warning signs that your elderly parents need health and companion care in Potomac, MD to remain healthy and safe. So next time you go home to see your aging parents, pay attention to some of these changes in order to take action before it is too late:
1. Unexplained Confusion/Isolation/Withdrawal
It will be high time to get help when tasks familiar to your aging parents become challenging and when they seem to be struggling to complete them. According to experts at Capital City Nurses, confusion may mean a lot of underlying health problems.
Being connected socially with friends and family has proven helpful to the body and mind. Socializing will help increase your parents’ well-being, boost their happiness, and sharpen their memory.
2. Difficulty Organizing their House
A cluttered home clearly indicates that your parents need elderly home care. A disorganized house often means they find it difficult to finish daily chores as their cognitive functioning declines.
The best home care services will help with basic organization. And with their support, you will rest easy knowing that your elderly parents have someone who can help them with their responsibilities.
3. Issues with Balance
Aging creates a lot of unique health problems. At times, one of these problems is difficulty with balancing. It might be because of dizziness that might be because of a medication’s side effect. Or it might be due to chronic health problems, like diabetes or low blood pressure.
Another common possibility is the reduction in muscle strength, which can be remedied with gentle exercises. Whichever the reason, it could be a great challenge, which causes over a third of aged people to fall once or twice a year.
4. Change in Behavior
Aging comes with a cascade of emotional and physical changes, which may result in various behavioral changes. While you should be alert to some warning signs, it is often normal for elderly parents to have anger, occasional memory lapse, or sadness.
5. A Decline in Hygiene and Change in Eating Behavior
Not taking a bath for one or two days is one thing. However, not taking a bath a week is a different thing. Personal groom activities, ranging from trimming nails to brushing hair, may become an everyday challenge for elderly parents. If you notice a decline in hygiene, there are home services that can help with that.
Significant weight gain or loss is also a serious concern. Preparing healthy meals isn’t simple for most people who have difficulty deciding what to buy and cook. Even when microwaving meals are involved, the steps can still be overwhelming. Any change in eating behavior, including an empty fridge or food disinterest may also be a sign that your aging parents need help.
The Takeaway!
In most situations, you might be in a better position to offer help to your aging parents. But sometimes, you will need home care services from reliable agencies near you.