Signs Parents Are Aging and Need Help

As our parents age, the roles often begin to shift, and the caregivers become the ones needing care. There may come a time when parents may not be able to live fully independently and need some assistance or general help. While this transition is a natural part of life, it can be challenging to recognize and navigate. Your parents may start needing additional care that encompasses a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional changes that indicate they might require more support than they once did.

Understanding the signs when an elderly parent needs help is important for ensuring the well-being and quality of life of our aging loved ones. From subtle shifts in behavior and mobility to more pronounced health issues and cognitive decline, recognizing when an aging parent needs assistance can begin the process of making timely decisions and arrangements that promote their safety, health, and happiness.

Major Signs to Look for to Know When Your Aging Parent Needs Help

Signs that your aging parent needs help can be subtle and evolve over time. If you begin to notice certain behaviors that aren’t typical of your parents, keep a vigilant eye. Observing little things can indicate that it might be time to begin preparations for the eventual need for caregiving or independent living services.

Keep in mind that each person’s aging process is different and can become accelerated or exacerbated by certain conditions or diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, varying types of dementia, stroke, sleep disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis or lupus that can lead to cognitive decline through chronic inflammation.

There are three main categories of issues to look for when you’re around or engaging with your parents. Consider certain indications of changes whether it be their ability to take care of themselves, mental decline, physical difficulties, or a combination of these factors.  Recognizing where the challenges are will help identify the type of support care that would be best suited for their needs.

Ability to Take Care of Themselves and Their Environment

Aging parents who struggle taking care of themselves and want to remain at home may want to consider services that provide a variety of comprehensive care to support them when they need help.

Some things to take note of when visiting and interacting with your aging parents:

• Have you noticed changes in how they take care of themselves? Do they appear unkempt or wear the same clothes repeatedly?
• How are they caring for their possessions? Are things in disrepair or not maintained in an accustomed manner?
• Have their eating habits changed where they forget meals, can no longer cook safely, or aren’t able to get groceries?
• Is their once-orderly house messy as they struggle to maintain the upkeep?
• Are they able to manage their finances and keep up with priority bill payments?
• Do they avoid social interactions and activities they once enjoyed or increased isolation or reluctance to leave the house.

Mental awareness

Mental acuity or diminished capacity can be revealed in mood changes, forgetfulness, or both and are indications that your aging parents need help, but in different ways. In these cases, aging parents may benefit from resources such as wellness calls or personal care services.

Signs to look for:

• Difficulty managing medications, including forgetting doses or taking the wrong ones.
• Forgetting appointments, names, or common tasks.
• Repeatedly asking the same questions.
• Poor judgment, such as falling for scams or making unsafe decisions.
• Difficulty with problem-solving or handling complex tasks.
• Getting lost in familiar places or confusion about time or place.
• Mood changes or volatile behavior.

Physical difficulties

As one ages, it’s typical to show signs of diminished physical capacity. It’s important to identify when this begins to affect an aging parent’s ability to perform normal activities. Certain things like home modifications may be helpful in supporting elderly parents when they have difficulty navigating their environment safely and independently.

Keep your eyes out for indications that your aging parent may need support such as:

• When sitting and standing become challenging, because it increases risks of injury. 
• How is the parent’s movement? Are they unstable and constantly looking for something in which to support them like a chair or wall?
• Are they afraid to take showers or baths due to the risk of falling?
• Are there unexplained bruises or injuries? 
• Do they have difficulty walking up and down the stairs safely?
• Have you noticed unexplained damage to property such as scratches and dents on the car from ‘bumping’ into things?

What to do When You See Signs Aging Parents Need Help

When you begin to see signs that your aging parents need help, ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.

Consider doing the following:

• Continue to be observant in your interactions with parents and their environment. Make regular check-ins, via phone calls, skype, and in person when possible.
• Prepare for some sensitive conversations with your parents. Your parents may be reluctant to talk about this topic but with the right approach, you can ease their mind. Learn tips on how to talk to aging parents about future care.
• Be proactive in learning what is available to support your aging parents. This allows you to consider what will best serve them in the decision-making process when the time comes.
• Utilize the resources and professionals through UDS and the CAPABLE programs which provide a way to navigate what can be an emotional and complicated stage in a family’s life.

UDS Can Help

The role of becoming caretaker for aging parents can be challenging on many levels. Learning what services are available to support you during this time of life can ease the burden and provide peace of mind. Contacting the dedicated professionals at UDS can help you navigate options when you begin to recognize signs that your parents are aging and need help.