It’s almost impossible to avoid the fact that your parents will need extra care at some point. The aging process is harsh on all of us, and there will be a stage when your parents can’t be 100% independent anymore.
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You can’t argue with that, but it doesn’t have to happen for many years. Some elderly people are fine well into their late 80s and early 90s. Others may struggle a lot sooner than this. The important thing is that you notice when your parents need additional help so you can get them the assistance they need.
As explained by Home Instead, the right care services can keep aging adults engaged in everyday life, improving their mental and physical health. That’s why you need to spot the early warning signs of your parents needing extra care – and here are three key things to look out for.
A Consistent Dip In Personal Hygiene
Have you noticed that one or both of your parents seems less hygienic than they used to be? What this means is that they might be wearing old clothes all the time, or you might spot the smell of body odor coming from them. Perhaps they also have overgrown facial hair, or the hair on their head looks really badly maintained.
These signs suggest that your parents struggle with normal personal hygiene tasks. Why else would they suddenly see such a big dip in personal hygiene? It might be that they can no longer shower or bathe themselves, so it’s time to take action. This can be an uncomfortable conversation, but it needs to be had so you can get your parents the additional care they need.
Serious Mobility Troubles
Mobility issues are common in the elderly population and tend to be the main sign that your parent needs extra support. Look for common signs of serious mobility troubles, such as:
- Regular bruises on your parents’ arms and legs
- Frequent falls
- Taking a very long time to move around or get up from chairs
You might notice your parents stop wanting to leave the house as well. This is a big sign that they worry about walking around or moving, which suggests their mobility has taken a severe hit. If your parents can’t move around properly, they need the help of a carer to handle daily tasks like shopping or cooking. You can also get them help in the form of mobility aids around the house.
Negative Changes To Their Memory
Everyone becomes forgetful as they get older, but some memory loss changes can be worse than others. If your parents start forgetting doctor’s appointments or don’t remember to take important medication, then you’ve got a problem on your hands.
They’ve clearly suffered a big mental decline, which means they require extra support. Again, carers can help them with their schedule, and you can find specialist cognitive support that works on memory retention and stuff like that.
Keep an eye on these three early warning signs whenever you interact with your parents. It’s not always nice to think about them needing additional help, but it’s better to act quickly so they retain a high standard of life.
This is a contributed post.
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