8 Signs Your Parents Need Help

The right time for assisted living

The burden often falls on the adult children to recognize the signs that their elderly parents may need help with activities of daily living. Here are some signs that may indicate your parent needs help at home.

1. Are your elderly parents showing signs of depression? As people age, they may start to feel lonely and isolated. Spending more time at home, away from people may be a sign of depression. Seniors need companionship. Keeping your parents active can help ward off depression.

2. Look in the refrigerator; what is the condition of the food? Has anything spoiled? Are there groceries in the home? An empty refrigerator may indicate a variety of problems. They may not be able to clean it out properly, they may not feel up to going to the grocery store or be able to carry in the items and put them away. They may have lost interest in food. Preparing a meal and cleaning up after may seem like a daunting task.

3. What is the condition of their home? Is the house dirty, is there extreme clutter are dirty dishes and laundry piling up? This may indicate that your parents need help around the house.

4. Are there stacks of unopened mail? Are bills getting paid? Unpaid bills and a buildup of mail may be a sign that elderly parents are overwhelmed, or forgetting to take care of household tasks. Caregivers can help organize and keep track of mail.

5. Are prescription medications being taken correctly? Ensuring they are taking necessary medications correctly is an important part of protecting their safety and keeping them healthy. If they are unable to handle this task, they may need support on a daily basis.

6. 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? This may mean doing laundry is a difficult task, or it may mean they are neglecting their personal appearance and hygiene. They may also be concerned about their safety while bathing or showering.

7. Take a look at the bottoms of their pots and pans. If the bottoms are burned, it may indicate that tasks like heating things on the stove are not being supervised. This can be dangerous and you should take action as soon as possible to get your parent the help they need.

8. Are doctor’s appointments being missed? This may indicate they do not have transportation, they may not be willing to face health problems, or they may be suffering from memory loss and have forgotten the appointments. Hiring a caregiver to accompany them to appointments is a commonly requested service.

Understanding the needs of your elderly parents allows you to suggest assistance when needed, ultimately protecting their privacy and reassuring them of their independence.

To learn more, schedule a complimentary in-home assessment or to simply discuss your parent’s situation, contact Elizabeth Fandel at 908-672-4499. successfully remain at home. We provide hourly and live-in assistance with activities of daily living.