| It can be difficult to determine when the time has | | | | old items? |
| come that Mom or Dad can no longer live by | | | | 3. Do they have enjoyment of meals are they |
| themselves. Americans are born and raised to be | | | | sharing meals with anyone? |
| independent. It is part of our culture. This makes | | | | 4. Is food in the refrigerator often spoiled or kept |
| accepting help harder in our senior years. We want | | | | long beyond the "use by" date? |
| our parents to be safe and maintain, as much | | | | 5. Are they still able to do their own shopping? |
| independence as possible but at some point for most | | | | Financial Management |
| of us help will be needed. | | | | |
| If you see your parent, on a regular basis, the decline | | | | 1. Is the mail being picked up and opened regularly or |
| of aging may not be as noticeable. You are glad for | | | | is it remaining uncollected and/or unopened? |
| what skills they are able to maintain. The facts are | | | | 2. Are credit cards or checkbook being misused or |
| that over 60% of persons over eighty years of age | | | | not balanced as well as in the past? |
| need some level of assistance. For example, I often | | | | 3. Are bills being paid on time? Are home maintenance |
| hear adult children complain that the parent is still | | | | and repairs getting out of control? |
| driving but when it is suggested to start talking to | | | | Social Contact |
| them about giving up the car the first reaction from | | | | |
| the adult child is "how will they get around?" You can | | | | 1. Has the amount of social contact changed |
| ignore some of this to the detriment of your parent, | | | | dramatically, so that there are few public outings or |
| family and the safety of the overall society. | | | | limited social visits with close friends? |
| While it may be difficult to address, changes in being | | | | 2. Has the ability to drive deteriorated? |
| able to care for ourselves, signal a need for a | | | | 3. Is there a fear of driving or a recent history of |
| different lifestyle. This could include any number of | | | | multiple minor accidents that is leading to isolation? |
| solutions from in home help to assisted living. Maybe | | | | 4. Do they need a vehicle in the area they live? |
| moving to a senior apartment building that provides | | | | 5. If they use public transportation, are they able to |
| companionship, transportation and meals will be | | | | continue without difficulty? |
| enough assistance to maintain independence. The | | | | 6. Are they involved in planned social activities? |
| main issue is many seniors cannot see or do not | | | | 7. Do they enjoy life and have things to look forward |
| want to admit that they need help and many adult | | | | to? |
| children do not want to acknowledge the changes | | | | Lifestyle |
| are happening either. | | | | |
| The fact is many families do wait until a crisis thrusts | | | | 1. Has there been a change in dress or appearance, |
| them into the maze of senior care. It is much better | | | | or a decline in personal hygiene? |
| to plan ahead and avoid the crisis altogether if | | | | 2. Is dress appropriate for the weather? |
| possible. Below are questions that can help you clarify | | | | 3. Are pets suddenly not being fed or cared for as |
| your loved ones needs and identify if home alone | | | | they had been in the past? |
| continues to be the best option for them. | | | | 4. Has the tidiness routine changed from a neat and |
| Medications/Health | | | | organized home to cluttered and/or not cleaned on a |
| | | | regular basis? |
| 1. Is your loved one taking all medications as | | | | 5. Is the home free of hazards such as throw rugs, |
| prescribed? | | | | extra furniture, boxes, space heaters or over used |
| 2. Do they have a system such as a pill organizer | | | | outlets? |
| that you can glance at to see if they are up to | | | | 6. Is there a sudden increase in ordering unnecessary |
| managing this themselves? | | | | items through mail or televised advertisements? |
| 3. Have medical conditions previously under control | | | | Requests |
| become acute because medication is not taken | | | | |
| correctly? | | | | 1. Have unnecessary calls been made to 911 or 911 |
| 4. Does your loved one have a health condition that | | | | visits increased due to falls or not calling 911 when |
| requires frequent monitoring or oversight? | | | | they should have? |
| 5. Does your loved one have signs of short-term | | | | 2. Has there been a marked increase in fearful calls to |
| memory loss or confusion? | | | | family or medical providers? |
| 6. Do they have an emergency life alert button? | | | | 3. Do they feel safe at home alone? |
| 7. Is someone attending medical appointments with | | | | While it is not easy to accept help, many seniors also |
| them, to insure instructions and needed follow-up can | | | | welcome it once provided as it can help them stay |
| occur? | | | | healthy longer. Experts in senior housing and care |
| Food, Meals and Groceries | | | | options can offer free Eldercare referrals and help |
| | | | you get a plan together on how to help someone |
| 1. Are they able to prepare own meals? | | | | you love. Do not be afraid to ask for help with this it |
| 2. If they have Meals on Wheels are they discarding | | | | can be a major lifestyle change for both of you. |