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The holidays are a time to visit with loved ones near and far, including aging parents. When families do not see each other regularly, subtle and clear signs of age-related deterioration are likely to escape notice. However, it is important to identify signs of decline in your elderly parents so you can make sure they get the help they need.
Here are five signs of decline to look out for during upcoming holiday visits.
How does health decline in seniors?
The aging process is often accompanied by deteriorating physical or cognitive health. Overall health declines as a result of normal biological processes, like cellular aging. Biological, chemical, or immunological factors damage cells, leading to the inability of cells to regenerate tissue.
Changes in cells also compromise organ function; the heart, kidneys, and lungs gradually lose some of their functionality. Arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s are consequences of age-related chronic low-level inflammation. Infections are difficult for the elderly to fight due to a weakened immune system.
Noticeable changes to physical or cognitive health usually begin when aging parents are in their mid-60s to early 70s. The seniors are likely to experience reduced physical strength, limited mobility, and forgetfulness. Sometimes decline can be severe and rapid—and families must be aware of the signs.
How do families spot early signs of decline during holiday visits?
When families do not see each other regularly through the year, adult children may be unaware of the true state of health and well-being of their aging parents. But visits during the holidays provide them with an accurate picture of how the seniors in their lives are faring.
1. Physical Changes
Older parents experiencing decline often show physical changes. Adult children may notice they have unintentionally lost weight, which is an indication of a serious problem. Dementia, for instance, may cause the seniors to forget to eat or how to use the stove to cook.
The seniors may struggle with mobility, avoiding stairs or walking more slowly than usual. When bruises, cuts, or other injuries appear on the senior, they may be a result of falls that have gone untreated. A disheveled appearance, from unwashed clothes to uncombed hair, reveals a neglect in self-care.
2. Cognitive Decline
When the adult children visit with parents over a long holiday, they may notice subtle cognitive changes that become more apparent. Seniors may experience forgetfulness or disorientation. Early signs of dementia include memory issues, like forgetting names, appointments, and important dates.
If the senior wanders or feels confused about their location—even in familiar places—they can be signs of dementia. While whipping up holiday pies in the kitchen, the aging parent may forget to turn off the stove; when done repeatedly, this is a warning sign of memory issues.
3. Social Isolation
The holidays are a joyful time of togetherness and merriment. But when the aging parent withdraws from festive gatherings or lacks interest in decorating the home when they had once enjoyed these activities, they are red flags. Seniors who withdraw may feel depressed or anxious.
4. Unkempt Home
Especially when holiday gatherings are held in the aging parents’ home, adult children see first-hand how well it is maintained. Piles of dirty laundry, an overgrown lawn, and unpaid bills suggest the seniors are having trouble keeping up with daily chores.
5. Medication Noncompliance
Almost half of all seniors take five or more medications, which can become difficult to manage when health decline sets in. When visiting, the adult children might notice unopened pill bottles or those that are empty too soon. Failing to take medications properly can lead to severe health consequences.
How do families start conversations about future care needs?
Holiday visits can be revealing about elderly parents’ current emotional and physical states. When adult children recognize the abovementioned warning signs of decline in their aging loved ones, it’s time to begin sensitive conversations about the need for home care.
Gently broach the topic of hiring extra support at home to assist the parents with daily tasks. Understand that multiple conversations may be necessary before they accept support. Consider scheduling a doctor’s appointment so the seniors can be medically assessed and diagnoses made.
The seniors’ physicians may recommend home care. Hearing an objective third party viewpoint may be enough to persuade the elderly parents that help is needed at home. Also explain the benefits of home care and how professional caregivers increase their independence and advocate for them.
Adult children are encouraged to express their concerns for their parents’ safety and how home care protects their physical and emotional welfare. When compassionate caregivers supervise the senior and provide hands-on support with tasks, the entire family enjoys greater peace of mind.
Senior Companion Care from Assisting Hands
A professional caregiver is not only a source of practical help with routine chores but a pleasant companion who supports the emotional well-being of seniors. This is our mission at Assisting Hands Home Care. We promote the physical, emotional, and social health of the aging adults in our care.
Our companion care services are designed to prevent seniors from feeling socially isolated, lonely, and, as a result, depressed. Caregivers forge meaningful bonds with elderly care recipients through light conversations, outings, games, and leisure activities. Your parents’ social health takes priority.
Included in our companion care services is help with daily tasks. We shop for fresh groceries, prepare nutritious meals, give timely medication reminders, and perform light housekeeping to maintain a clean, safe environment. Caregivers conduct fall risk assessments and remove clutter to prevent falls.
Caregivers from our reputable home care agency are licensed, bonded, and insured to give the elderly and their families peace of mind. Each professional is trained in first aid and knows how to respond during an emergency. Caregivers are also carefully matched to ensure compatibility with seniors.
Visits during this holiday may include broaching the topic of companion care from Assisting Hands Home Care. When your parents could benefit from senior companionship, choose our agency. We’re privileged to serve seniors in Carrollton, TX | Coppell, TX | Dallas, TX | Highland Park, TX | Richardson, TX | University Park, TX Dallas, Texas, any time of the year. Call us at (214) 760-6944 to schedule a free in-home consult to learn more.
