Nothing prepares you for that visit when you suddenly realize your parents are “elderly.” Yes, we all know they are getting older, but unless we see them often and pay close attention, we can be caught off guard when they suddenly struggle with daily tasks, become more frail, experience confusion, or lose their way while driving.
Such revelations often come to adult children over the holidays, so as we head into the holiday season, here are some yellow flags to catch before they become red ones.
Dehydration is common in the elderly. It can cause headaches, confusion, constipation, tiredness, and muscle cramps, and is possibly related to Urinary Tract Infections, which can be very serious for the elderly. If your parent mentions any of these, evaluate how much water they drink and encourage them to drink more. If you have more serious concerns, especially with confusion, constipation, or a UTI, seek medical care.
Look for changes in your loved one’s physical appearance, behaviors, and condition of their home. Bruises or bandaged skin tears can reveal a pattern of falling, which can indicate balance issues, muscle weakness, or early dementia. Falls can easily result in broken bones, which can lead to a loss of independence, hospitalization, or even death.
Adult children should also look for unexplained weight loss or gain, loss of muscle mass or strength, and evaluate their parent’s mobility, as these can affect how easily they can handle daily tasks and can be indicative of medical or safety issues. Changes in behaviors or moods can be caused by dementia or depression, especially if they have experienced the loss of a partner or friend, and it is important to seek help for both.
Several cognitive signs should not be ignored. Don’t write it off if your aging parent calls you the wrong name, especially if they don’t realize they have done so, or if they tell you the same story or ask the same question several times. These are yellow flags to look for. Notice if they have more trouble finding their way around town when driving in familiar places. Observe if they miss important details while driving, like signs, lights, or movement on the periphery. This could be a sign of vision loss, anxiety about driving, or memory loss. These are all signs that it is time for them to be evaluated to see if it is still safe for them to drive.
Other signs to look for are a more cluttered house, burn marks on pans, and expired food or lack of food in the fridge, which can also be red flags for safety issues. Since medication errors are common with the elderly, it could be well worth the effort to check each prescription, counting what is in the bottle to evaluate whether your parent is taking the proper dosage on the correct schedule.
If you do find reason to be concerned about your parent’s ability to live independently, Senior Living Specialists San Antonio is educated about the signs of decline and can guide families with aging loved ones. We can help you evaluate your parent’s situation and find the care that meets their needs, whether needing some at-home care or moving to the appropriate place.
