Signs that you need to seek senior care services for your loved one
It’s a question that comes up among many families in America. Most seniors live happy, healthy, and fully independent lives, but the aging process eventually brings mental and physical changes that could interfere with their independent, active lives. While not all aging parents and loved ones need assistance in their daily activities, most seniors in their 80s require in-home care. Families have to juggle between various senior care services available. So what are the signs that seniors need assistance in their everyday life? Here are the top signs to look out for.
Significant memory loss
Has your senior loved one started forgetting simple things like locking the door when they enter a home? Do they look for things already in their hands or close to them? Do they forget essential matters like paying bills or miss important meet-ups like doctor’s appointments? If so, your loved one could be signaling they need help. Even if they can manage to do everything by themselves, the confusion and memory loss could affect their safety. For instance, they may forget to turn off the stove after cooking, causing a fire.
Unable to perform day-to-day tasks
If you notice sloppy dressing, unkempt appearance, or poor hygiene, your loved one may be having a challenge performing these tasks by themselves. They could skip simple grooming activities like combing the hair or brushing their teeth. Some may have difficulty showering by themselves. Additionally, if the seniors used to work and pay bills, they may need help getting bills paid as they may no longer be able to work. Other signs to watch out for include the inability to change bulbs when not working or fix simple things by themselves, have problems tidying and cleaning the house, inability to get to the grocery store or visit the drug store by themselves, and many other changes.
Unexplained weight loss
Involuntary weight loss is one of the main signs that a senior needs assistance. A senior can lose weight due to many reasons, including lack of appetite or poor feeding, stress and anxiety, lack of money to buy proper food, loss of taste or smell, diseases, or the physical inability to cook proper food by themselves. Many will despise cooking or eating alone, primarily if they were used to a vibrant family, and will prefer to prepare simple dishes. The desire to eat also fades with age. Foods that fascinated them no longer appear appealing or good enough due to lack of smell and other environmental changes. Losing weight could also signal an underlying condition. Be sure to arrange for a doctor’s appointment to evaluate the cause of weight loss.
Showing signs of depression
Seniors spend most of their late years alone, particularly if they lose a spouse. They also feel sad, lonely, and left out by family and friends. Most of them have no social life, which slowly leads to depression and other mental health challenges. Note that living alone doesn’t always translate to depression. Many seniors maintain a happy outlook all the time, have an active social life, and maintain contact with their families. Depression often results from external factors or mental challenges such as lack of money to support themselves or a senior who won’t get over a spouse who died.
They cannot walk steadily by themselves
Aging has a negative impact on the bones and muscles of a senior. Your loved one’s bones may shrink, and muscles may grow weaker, leading to instability when walking. Falls are equally dangerous as they can lead to broken bones and fractures. If the senior is experiencing challenges with getting up, walking, or climbing stairs, it’s probably time for senior care services. In the meantime, make sure the home is safe for them by removing clutter and fall hazards on their way. Instead of climbing the stairs to go to the bedroom, allow them to sleep downstairs to decrease the risk of a fall.
