Home for the holidays?
Take time and assess the needs of your aging loved ones.
If you live a distance away and haven’t seen mom and dad in a while, the holidays are a great opportunity to observe how your parents are doing in terms of maintaining their physical health and also their home environment. Could be it’s time to call in some reinforcements to make things like everyday chores, yard work and even self-care tasks easier and less burdensome. Doing so can bring greater peace of mind and less worry to both you and your parents.
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Give special attention to these areas.
Check their home environment.
Does their house seem messier or more cluttered than normal? Is there an excessive amount of dirty dishes or laundry piling up? Lots of items left on countertops may mean they are having trouble reaching up or bending down to put things away. Scorched cookware might mean your parent is forgetting when something is cooking on the stove. Expired (as in spoiled or moldy) food or not much food in the fridge could indicate they’re having trouble getting out to the store.
Take a look around outside the house, too. The yard may be overgrown, flower beds filled with weeds, or there may be neglected outdoor furniture.
Watch for mobility issues.
Do your parents have difficulty getting up from sitting or standing for long periods of time? They may also have bruises or wounds that could indicate a recent fall. Do they seem unsteady on their feet, or have trouble getting up from a chair or the couch.
Even a parent who normally likes taking walks, gardening or doing other activities will slow down at some point. But if your parents struggle to walk up and down stairs, seem unsteady when walking, or sit in one spot for a long time and then experience pain when they stand up, it could mean there’s a medical problem.
Check their personal appearance.
Do you notice significant changes in your parents’ weight, hygiene, or overall appearance? Weight loss or gain may point to poor nutrition. They may not have the energy to prepare meals, may be forgetting to eat, or may rely too much on eating out or fast foods.
Look for piles of paperwork or unopened mail?
Unpaid bills, late notices or expired registration notices on vehicles are signs your parents may be neglecting their finances or having difficulty keeping up with routine financial tasks, due to cognitive, mental health or frail physical health.