Aging Your Way
Warning Signs, Does Your Parent Need Help?
Nearly one out of every four U.S. households (23 percent, or 22.4
million) provides care to a relative or friend aged 50 or older. The majority
of these caregivers are baby boomers. In the twenty-first century the
demands placed on family and other informal caregivers are likely to escalate,
affecting nearly every American family. Since most persons prefer to stay
in their own homes and live independently for as long as possible, this
column addresses questions and concerns regarding these issues.
Question:
Over the past few months we have started to feel a nagging worry about
my parents living on their own. They seem to be doing okay, but small
things happen now and then that make us wonder. We aren’t sure how
to gauge if they really are safe, and if so, for how much longer? How
do we know when it is time to do something and what do we do?
Answer:
If you’re not sure whether your parent or loved one needs help,
you are not alone. The gradual changes can be hard to spot. There are
certain signs to look for that will help you determine if some type of
help is needed, and there are professionals that can help you figure out
what the next move should be. The more you know about a situation and
the options available to you, the better you can make decisions that are
best for you and your family. You don't have to do it alone.
Warning Signs That Your Parent or Loved One May Need Help
- Poor grooming (stains on clothes, infrequent bathing)
- Changes in eating habits (one meal a day, snacks vs. a nutritious meal)
- Sudden mood changes (angry, suspicious, paranoid)
- Reluctance to socialize
- Signs of depression (not sleeping, not eating, no energy)
- Poor or decreased judgment
- Loss of initiative or lack of interest (stop participating in social, church or volunteer activities)
- Increased forgetfulness (missed doctor's appointments, family events)
- Difficulty walking/unsteady on feet/falling
- Mishandling finances/medications (forget to take medication, not taking the right amount of medication, bills not paid)
- Unsafe home environment (cluttered pathways, poor lighting, house in need of repairs)
If you answer yes to any of the following statements, you may benefit from contacting a care manager, or an elder care professional.
- I need help to figure out what my parent needs and how to find the right community resources.
- I feel overwhelmed at knowing what to do next.
- Our family cannot decide what steps to take next.
- I am currently feeling overwhelmed with providing care giving tasks.
- I am not sure what changes are a part of normal healthy aging.
- I feel guilty when I cannot be of more assistance to my parents.
- I need help finding a professional or provider focused on elder services.
- I worry that my loved one is not safe at home.
- I don't know how to approach my parent about needing help.
- I need help knowing what Medicare or insurance will pay for.
Not sure if you should call?
How does it work? A step-by-step process to get started. Sometimes we
need a little help. The following is the step-by-step process of how the
Evercare Connections® program works for you. When you call us, we
will help you through it.
- Collect data to obtain a thorough understanding of the elder's situation,
either on-site or via telephone.
Medical issues including:
- Current perception of health
- Preventive health practices
- Knowledge of wellness and self-care
- Known medical diagnosis
- Prescription & over-the-counter medication use or consumption
- Nutritional status
- Fall risk assessment
Functional issues including:
- Ability to perform activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, continence, ambulation, transfer/dressing)
- Ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (cooking, telephone use, financial management, grocery shopping, housework, laundry, transportation)
Emotional issues including:
- Depression
- Coping capacity
- Anxiety
- Social isolation
- Caregiver burnout
- Grief issues
Cognitive issues including:
- Cognitive screening
Environmental issues including:
- Home safety
- Accessibility of home environment
Social/Financial/Legal issues including:
- Support systems
- Spiritual Financial Grief and loss issues
- Team summarizes assessment data in a consumer friendly written report.
- Interdisciplinary team reviews summary and offers suggestions to develop care plan.
- Written summary with recommendations mailed to the family.
- Summary, recommendations, and next steps reviewed with the family on a care conference call.
- Care Advocate implements care service plan, continue with ongoing monitoring.