Signs An Elderly Parent Needs Professional Assistance

Warning Signs Your Aging Parent Needs Help

If your aging parent is willing or able to ask for help or if you can ask them directly, then figuring out when to intervene is much easier. However, many older people either don’t recognize that they need extra help or are too embarrassed to admit that they can’t manage on their own.

Some of the warning signs that your loved one may need more help include:

• Changes in weight, suggesting that your loved one is not able to prepare meals or feed themselves
• Changes in hygiene, which may indicate that your loved one is having trouble bathing or doing laundry
• Changes in home appearance, suggesting that your loved one is struggling to clean or declutter their home
• Worsening health conditions, suggesting that your loved one may be struggling to manage their medications

Additional changes that suggest that your aging parent is struggling to manage on their own can be subtle and gradual over time, including:

• Changes in sleep patterns
• Changes in mental health
• Confusion
• Increased falls
• Social isolation
• Memory problems
• Mismanaged finances and unpaid bills
• Unexplained bruises, cuts, or other injuries which can be signs of abuse

Recognizing these changes can help you seek timely and beneficial intervention to get your parents the help they deserve.

Care Options For Your Elderly Parent

There are many care options available to help an elderly parent. In some cases, in-home care or living with a family member is an option. In other situations, assisted living facilities or skilled nursing facilities are more appropriate for the level of care your parent needs. Here are some things to consider when looking into senior living options.

Living With Family

Living with a family member can provide comfortable, familiar support for many aging people. Having a family member available to help with managing finances, making meals, and helping with cleaning can be enough support for people who don’t need a residential facility level of care.

For those looking for additional education to learn new caregiving skills, there are classes available through organizations such as AARP.

In-Home Care

For some older adults and their families, in-home care is an option. This type of care can include:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Nursing care provided by a home health agency
• A trained caregiver who can help with meals, cleaning, and bathing.

This type of care can often be provided whether your aging parent lives alone in their home or with a family member.

Assisted Living

Assisted living offers a degree of independence while still providing support for people who are not able to live independently. Assisted living facilities generally provide residents with their own rooms but provide additional services. In an assisted living facility, your senior parent can have social interactions, meals provided, help with laundry and cleaning, and even help with bathing.

These facilities often aren’t covered by medical insurance and range in size from a dozen residents to more than 100. Different states have different requirements with regard to staffing regulations in facilities. Assisted living facilities may also have a skilled nursing unit as your elderly parent’s care needs increase.

Skilled Nursing

Skilled nursing facilities provide a higher level of care for those who require it. This level of care includes 24-hour supervision and assistance with services ranging from meals and medication management to full care for completely debilitated people.

If your elderly parent has dementia, some skilled nursing facilities provide services specific to the needs of these patients, such as locked units to prevent wandering.

When to Intervene With Aging Parents

The earlier you can start a conversation about future care needs with elderly parents, the better. Having a conversation with your parents early on can allow you to plan for needs if they arise and be better able to honor your loved one’s wishes as they age. But, if you’ve noticed signs that your loved one is struggling, such as the ones discussed above, it may be time to intervene.

Signs of malnutrition, inability to manage finances, inability to care for themselves, or falls or abuse are common signs that intervention is needed.

What to Do if You Find That Your Parent Needs Extra Help

If you’ve determined that your parent could benefit from extra help, you should first consider taking your parent in for a visit with their primary care provider. Your parent’s doctor can evaluate them to ensure no medically treatable conditions contribute to their decline. Your parent’s primary care provider may also be able to make recommendations or refer your parent to appropriate services for their needs.

Your parent’s insurance company may also have a case manager available to help guide you regarding what services are available and what the coverage looks like. Additionally, many websites can point you to additional resources depending on where you live. The US Department of Health and Human Services has a list of resources for caregivers that can be helpful when going through this process.

Signs Your Older Loved One Is Doing Well On Their Own

If your aging parent or loved one doesn’t have any of the warning signs of needing additional support, then there’s a good chance that they’re doing well on their own. These signs often include:

• Your loved one has a good social network.
• Your loved one is maintaining their home.
• Your loved one can manage their medications.
• Your loved one is maintaining their personal hygiene.
• Your loved one is paying their bills on time.

Even if your loved one is doing well on their own, it’s never too early to talk with them about their wishes around end-of-life care and living arrangements in the event that they need assistance later on.

Planning for the Future

Many elderly loved ones will need more support as they age, and you may need assistance caring for elderly parents. Planning ahead and having an open line of communication with your aging parent can help ease the transition for when the time comes.