For many of us, the holidays are a great time to be with family, relatives, and loved ones and reconnect. It’s also the perfect time to check up on older seniors and make sure they are healthy and living well, and not struggling in any way.
Ways to Check Up on Aging Seniors
Give Them a Hug
Do they feel shaky and unstable when they greet you?
In addition to being friendly, a hug will help you determine how they are walking and balancing. Falls are the number one cause of injuries in seniors, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture. Canes, walkers, and handrails are all great ways to help prevent seniors from falling.
Do they smell bad?
Bad body odor or not paying attention to your personal appearance can be signs that an aging loved one needs help caring for themselves.
Have they lost weight?
Weight loss may mean nothing or it may be a sign of something. For example, they may have difficulty cooking healthy meals for themselves or may have lost their sense of smell and taste, and no longer feel hungry. Other causes include medications, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and cancer, and a regular doctor checkup can help determine their overall health.
Have a Conversation
Do they appear confused or forget things?
Take a moment to talk with them and listen closely to the conversation. Do they ask the same question over again or appear confused about people, places and times? If so, they may be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia which are linked to short-term memory loss.
Are they keeping in contact with friends and socializing?
Talk with them about their daily activities, social life, and hobbies. Not leaving the house, withdrawing from social activities, or losing interest in hobbies that they once enjoyed can be warning signs of dementia, depression, hearing loss, or other medical issues.
Take a Look Around
Is the home messier than usual?
Stacks of unopened mail, piles of clutter, and expired food in the refrigerator are all signs that a loved one is having a hard time keeping up around the house. Scorched or burnt cookware is also a sign that they may have forgotten something on the stove until it started burning which is a serious fire hazard.
Share Your Concerns
If you think a relative or loved one needs help, talk with them and share your concerns. Encourage them to see a doctor and get a regular medical checkup. Most importantly, be patient and allow them to feel in control while offering solutions that guide your desired outcome.
While it is difficult to see a loved one grow older, aging is, unfortunately, a fact of life and often the solution can be as simple as hiring someone to help them with chores and installing some handrails. However, there may be a time when moving to an assisted living community is the best alternative for a loved one’s overall health, safety, and well-being.
Consider Assisted Living
Many assisted living facilities in Los Angeles have dedicated memory care programs and serve nutritious easy-to-eat meals designed specifically for loved ones who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. If you would like to learn more about the many options for assisted living in Los Angeles please contact us at 310-428-8221.
We specialize in assisted living in Los Angeles and will guide you through the entire process – all at no cost to you.
