Dr. Eboni Green
November 27, 2021
No one likes to think their parents aren’t in good health or struggling to live their lives independently. As age expectancy increases, it is not uncommon for individuals to live into their 80’s and 90’s. With most preferring to live at home you will likely need to support your parent so he or she can independently for as long as possible.
However, some individuals, especially those who might be a part of the more stoic baby boomer, and the silent generation, may be resistant to accepting help or admitting they need support in any area of their lives. So, how can you tell if your parents need your help and support?
You might be surprised to discover that your mother or father has not washed their hair for a week or two or that he or she is wearing soiled clothing, but it happens. Observing a decline in hygiene levels or a lack of willingness to maintain it could indicate the need for support at home. To stay abreast of any hygiene concerns that you may need to prompt, encourage, or assist with personal care.
Having support from an external care company via a Self-Managed Home Care Package can also help to reduce incidences of neglected hygiene.
Unwashed clothing, dirty dishes, and muddy footprints dried on the floor can be indicators that your parent needs assistance. Keeping up with cleaning and daily chores might simply be too difficult for your parent to do without help.
It is important to recognize that an unkept environment can dramatically impact your parent’s quality of life. Perhaps your parents have an illness or are prioritizing each other’s health, and simply putting cleaning the home on the backburner. A caregiver can assist with daily housekeeping chores if your parents are struggling to keep a clean house.
As we get older, it is natural for us to start forgetting things or having momentary memory lapses. However, if you notice this is becoming increasingly frequent with your parents, you may want to investigate. For example, if your parent never knows where their house key is, forgets the day of the week, or misses an appointment when they never used to, this could indicate that there is a problem with their memory.
Some people can become more emotional as they become older or reclusive. If they appear not to want to spend time on their alone, ask why? Go home with them and see what it is that could be causing them to feel isolated. Alternatively, if your parent(s) were usually outgoing and suddenly become reclusive, this could be due to a change in health or mobility that affects their confidence.
Paying attention to the small changes in your parents and their lifestyles can alert you of any concerns and help you to get them the help they need sooner rather than later to help them retain their confidence and independence.
