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Health & Fitness

Signs That Your Loved One Is No Longer Safe Living Independently

“My father sounded OK over the phone prior to my visit, but when I walked into his house, I began to notice that his health was rapidly deteriorating. He kept telling me that everything is ‘just fine’ so I let him be. Less than one week later, I got a call that my father had been admitted to the hospital due to a harsh fall in his home,” anonymous client. If the adult parent in that scenario listened more to the father’s health signals rather than listening to what his father said, then a hospital visit could have been avoided.

Is your Loved One Safe Living Independently?

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Many seniors today think they are capable and safe living on their own at home, but in many cases- your assessment of their current health condition is more realistic and useful than their own. It becomes almost impossible for an aging parent to admit or accept assistance, because no one likes to lose his or her independence. Thus the burden then falls on the family to recognize signs that they may no longer be safe living independently.

Whether your loved one eventually needs some extra help living at home or needs 24/7 assistance in an Assisted Living or Nursing home, it is important to assess the signs of your aging loved one. In turn, those signs will help you narrow down what the next step might be.

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Here are the Health Signs to Look for When your Aging Loved One is Living Independently:

·         Increased Difficulty in your Loved Ones Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as independently showering, wardrobe changes, daily housework, or even just walking around the house. If you notice that your loved one is having difficulty with their ADLs, it’s time to react quickly and seek professional help.

·         Social Isolation. If your loved one seems to stay at home with little outdoor or social activity, they are prone to health issues such as dementia. Does your loved one get out of the house enough? Does your loved one have friends that they see on a regular basis? If not, talk to them about being social. If they are incapable of doing so then it is time to seek guidance.

·         Forgetfulness can be one of the first signs of cognitive impairment. Did your loved one forget to take out the trash or miss multiple appointments? Did your loved one forget to take the daily vitamins he or she usually takes? If so, it might be time to have a conversation with them.

·         Loss of Appetite or the inability to eat or cook themselves. Has your loved one been eating? If so, what have they been eating? If they can no longer cook for themselves and/or eat healthy foods, then talk to them about getting help.

·         A Chronic Health Condition that is worsening can be one of the most evident signs that they are unfit to live at home independently. Assess the severity and timeline of the chronic condition and then talk to your loved one about the situation at hand.

·         Recent “Close Calls”. If your loved one has a minor accident such as wetting the bed, or much worse- any falling accident, it’s time to seek help. As people get older, the odds rise and the accident that happens could be a lot worse.

·         Weight Loss/Looking Frail or even Significant Weight Gain is a signal that their bones may not be as strong as they used to be, and if they fall then the situation could escalate very quickly. For instance, have your loved one hold a cup of tea. Do they have the strength to hold it or is the cup shaking substantially? Or, how well can they stand up or sit down from the couch?

Any significant weight gain could be a sign of dementia. Your loved one may not remember eating lunch, so they eat another meal and then another meal. It’s time to look towards the next step if you’re noticing these signs getting worse.

·         Neglected Environment- An unorganized, cluttered or messy home can be a sign that they can’t clean anymore, or it might be so cluttered that it can affect their own hygiene. A neglected environment can get worse quickly, and will be unfit for your loved one to live in. Exact signs to look for: unopened bills and personal mail, a full voicemail box, an unmade bed, or expired food.

These are just a few warning signs that you should take into consideration when talking to, or visiting your loved one. Be proactive and keep track of all signals, because being proactive will keep your loved one as safe as they can be. If you are noticing clear signs such as the ones listed above, it may be time to have a conversation with them about the next chapter of their life.

The most important factor is their health and safety, and if they are unfit to live alone then it is time to seek help in finding the next appropriate living option. In the meantime, if your loved one has no signs of health issues and is safe at home, then have a conversation with them NOW about their next living options, that way, when that time comes, the transition will be less traumatic.

If your aging loved one has already illustrated significant signs of health & safety issues while living independently, or if you are seeking further information on the next step, contact your local senior care advisor today for complimentary, personalized guidance for you and your family.


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Rick Graffagna

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