Caregivers Journal: Signs Your Elderly Loved One Might Need Extra Help
Do you have an elderly loved one in your life? A parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or perhaps a beloved family friend? Most people do, and most people have many elderly folks in their lives. Many of the elderly get along fine and stay well and vibrant in their later years. Others – for a variety of reasons due to mental or physical decline – can struggle to take care of themselves and their daily affairs. And it’s often difficult to know – especially if your loved one is not close by, or if your interaction with them is limited – if someone needs help.
As a retired Registered Nurse and Managing Director of Care for Right at Home in Milwaukee, I spend a lot of time talking to people about what kind of help they might need for that person in their life. And while every person and situation is different, there are some common themes and signs that the elderly are struggling with their day-to-day caretaking. We’ve adapted some guidelines* from the National Institute on Aging (nia.nih.gov) to help you evaluate where your loved one might be struggling. We’re calling this “HELPING” and it looks like this:
H – hoarding; their home is becoming cluttered, messy or difficult to navigate
E – essential medications are not be being taken as prescribed.
L – looks or sounds confused; not able to converse normally or keep track of details
P – poor hygiene; showing an unkempt appearance, not showering, or wearing soiled clothing
I – inability to attend to housekeeping; or lack interest in keeping the home clean and tidy
N – not wearing suitable clothing; missing items, mismatched items, or clothing not suited to weather or appropriate to the circumstance or event
G – getting dehydrated; this is very common with the elderly and can be deadly
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does provide some clues and general guidelines to help determine what’s happening. Now that you know the signs to look for, you may want to talk to your loved one on the phone and gently ask how they’re getting along in these areas, or even better, visit them and make an evaluation in person. If you determine that your loved one might in fact need help, the next step is to reach out to qualified caregiver resources like Right at Home, to schedule an initial consultation and discuss your loved one’s unique needs and situation with a caregiver expert.
It’s not easy for an elderly person to lose their sense of independence due to the inability to self-manage and care for themselves. But with a little help from their loved ones and with the right caregiving support, it’s possible for the elderly to live enjoyable and productive lives for many years to come – wherever they may call home.
With everyone balancing more duties at home than ever before, having the the right support for our elderly loved ones can definitely bring peace of mind. And I'll be sharing more tips and insights in the coming months on senior care and how to find the right help for elderly loved ones. I welcome your comments and questions here as well.
If someone you love is in need of care, contact us today.
