5 Warning Signs that Your Loved One May Need Help (And an Essential Bonus Tip You Can’t Ignore)
Your dad doesn’t return your phone calls. Your normally well-groomed mom answers the door in an old housecoat with hair sticking in all directions. You see rotten food in the fridge and piles of garbage collecting by the back door.
It can be hard to determine if these are signs that your senior loved one needs more help at home or whether they are just having a bad week.
First, take some time to look at the whole picture. Ask other family members, friends, or neighbors what changes they have noticed in your loved one.
These 5 warning signs can give you suggestions on what behaviors you don’t want to dismiss as “just a bad day.” Getting help for your senior loved one at the right time can often prevent a situation from becoming worse.
1. Changes in Mental Status
One of the top signs you will need to watch for is changes in how your loved one interacts with the world around them. You may notice that they have become more withdrawn, they are forgetting regular appointments or they call you multiple times a day for reassurance that everything is all right. Daily occurrences like paying bills and grocery shopping may become overwhelming for your loved one.
These signs of confusion, depression, or anxiety should not be ignored. Your loved one may benefit from regular companion visits or daily check-ins to provide reassurance and support.
2. Not Taking Care of Themselves
Take a critical but gentle look at how your loved one is caring for themselves. Are they wearing the same clothes for multiple days? Are you noticing increases in body odor or even a urine smell? Is their hair neat and tidy or does it appear that they may not have bathed recently?
An inability to keep up with their personal grooming and hygiene has both physical and mental health consequences. Your loved one may withdraw or avoid social settings if they are embarrassed about their physical appearance. Offering to set up assistance with personal care may ease the stress that your loved one is feeling.
3. Not Eating Properly
A sudden change in weight, whether it is a weight gain or loss, can indicate either a health problem or difficulties with managing meals. Seniors living alone are at a high risk for malnutrition. This can be because of a loss of interest in food, trouble preparing meals, eating too much processed or fast food, or even forgetting to eat.
Having someone else take on the responsibility of preparing and cleaning up a meal makes it more likely that your loved one will eat a nutritious meal.
4. Struggling with the House
Keeping up with the cleaning, organizing and upkeep of a home can require a large amount of physical and mental energy. You might notice that your loved one is no longer able to stay on top of these daily tasks. You might see dirty dishes piled in the sink, an empty fridge or containers of rotten food, mail that is left unopened, piles of clothes, or newspapers clogging the pathways.
Take the time to ask your loved one if there is anything they would like help with, by getting their input it is less likely that they will take offense.
5. Increased Accidents or Falls
Mobility can change as a person ages. You might notice that your loved one is experiencing more accidents or falls than usual. This can include signs like bruises, cuts, or burns on hands, arms, or legs. These can indicate that your loved one has fallen recently or is having trouble in the kitchen.
You might notice that there are unexplained dents or scrapes on the car. Maybe you notice that your loved one is moving with hesitancy or having trouble getting in and out of a chair.
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury in seniors and can often be prevented with appropriate home set up and support.
6. BONUS TIP: You Need Help
Most warning signs are focused on what to look for in your senior loved one that indicates they need help in the home. But don’t forget to look at your needs too.
Are you struggling to keep up with the increased care demands of your loved one?
Are you spending all weekend cleaning their house, running errands and sorting medications?
Are you getting calls 10 times a day asking you to stop by?
Is your health suffering as you focus on your loved one?
Are you starting to resent the requests your loved one is making of you?
These are important signs to watch for in yourself. You and your loved one can both benefit from in-home support that allows you to get back to enjoying your relationship with your loved one.
