Four things you should look for next time you visit your parents
How observant are you when it comes to your aging parents? Next time you stop by for a visit, we want you to take a little extra time to pay attention to the little things. The things that you often overlook, are the things that can cause potentially big problems in the future. If you aren’t sure what you should be looking for we want to break down a list of what you should be looking for and why.
Four things you should look for next time you visit your parents:
- How do your parents look?
- Go through their mail.
- Go on a drive with them.
- Go through their fridge.
How do your parents look?
Does your parent look like they’ve lost weight? Do they look frail? Have they gained weight? Do they smell different? A great way to figure some of these things out is to give them a hug when you enter the room. Wrapping your arms around them you’ll be able to see and smell them to see if you notice any visible changes. These changes could be because of health problems or simply neglect.
Go through their mail.
Is the mail piled up on the counter unopened or is it still sitting in the mailbox? Unopened mail and forgetfulness could be a sign of dementia. You don’t want your parent to forget to pay their bills. That is why it is important that you start checking in as non-invasive as possible. This way you are able to stay up on what is going on and ensure that they are still cutting a check every month to pay their bills so that their utilities don’t get shut off.
Go on a drive with them.
If your parent drives on a regular basis it is important you sit in the passenger’s seat every once in a while to see how they are getting along. Does their car have visible issues? Does your parent have difficulty paying attention? Are they tailgating? Do they forget where they are going or how to get there? All of these things are important to watch out for to determine if they should be driving or not.
Go through their fridge.
Next time you drop by, help yourself to something to drink as a way to inspect the fridge. Do you notice expired food? Multiples of things that aren’t needed or simply no food at all? All of these are warning signs that your parent isn’t able to keep up with the daily household activities and may need help.
Always remember that if you don’t feel qualified or able to take care of your loved one, we can help. To learn more about our assisted living, long-term living, or rehabilitation services, be sure to give us a call at (937) 319-8924.
