Abingdon Living Jan - Feb 2020

Caring for the elderly members of your family
Over Christmas you may have spent some time with the family and perhaps more time with
the elderly members and you become concerned about their health?
Here we list 8 warning signs to assess if
they need help and what to do if they do.
You may wish to consider the following
questions:
1. Is the person (persons) able to take care
of themselves?
Pay attention to their appearance. Failure
to keep up with daily routines - such as
bathing and tooth brushing - could indicate
dementia, depression or other physical
impairments.Also pay attention to their
home. Are the lights working? Is the heat
on? Is the garden overgrown? Any changes
in the way things are being done around the
house could provide clues to their health.
For example, scorched pots could mean
they are forgetting about food cooking on
the stove. Neglected housework could be
a sign of depression, dementia or other
concerns.
2. Are they experiencing memory loss?
Everyone forgets things from time to time.
Modest memory problems are a fairly
common part of ageing, and sometimes
medication side effects or underlying
conditions contribute to memory loss.
There’s a difference, though, between
normal Changes in memory and the type of
memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s
disease and other types of dementia. Are
the memory changes limited to misplaced
glasses or an occasionally forgotten
appointment - or are the changes more
concerning, such as forgetting common
words when speaking, getting lost in
familiar neighbourhoods or being unable to
follow directions?
3. Are they safe in their home?
Take a look around their home, keeping an
eye out for any problems. Could their be a
difficulty navigating a narrow stairway? Are
they able to read directions on medication
containers? When asked, do they say they
feel safe at home?
4. Are they safe on the road?
Driving can be challenging for older adults.
Do they become confused while driving
or are you concerned about their ability to
drive safely, it might be time to stop driving.
They could be a danger to others.
5. Have they lost weight?
Losing weight without trying could be a sign
that something’s wrong. Weight loss could
be related to many factors, including:
• Difficulty cooking.
• Loss of taste or smell.
• Underlying conditions - indicating ill health.
6. Is the person (persons) in good spirits?
Note their moods and ask how they’re
feeling. A drastically different mood could
be a sign of depression or other health
concerns.
7. Are they still social?
Talk to them about their activities. Are
they connecting with friends? Have they
maintained interest in hobbies and other
daily activities? Are they involved in
organisations or clubs? Have they given up
on being with others, it could be a sign of
a problem.
8. Is the person (persons) able to get
around?
Pay attention to how they are walking.
Are they reluctant or unable to walk usual
distances? Have they fallen recently? Is
knee or hip arthritis making it difficult to get
around the house? Would they benefit from
a cane or walker? Issues such as muscle
weakness and joint pain can make it difficult
to move around as well. If someone is
unsteady on their feet, they might be at risk
of falling - a major cause of disability among
older adults.
Taking action
There are many steps you can take to
ensure the person/persons’ health and wellbeing,
even if you don’t live nearby. Share
your concerns with them. Your concerns
might motivate them to see a doctor or
make other changes.
Encourage regular medical check-ups
If you’re worried about weight loss,
depressed mood, memory loss or other
signs and symptoms,encourage them to
schedule a doctor’s visit.
You might offer to schedule the visit or to
accompany them to the doctor - or find
someone else to attend the visit. Ask about
follow-up visits as well.
Address safety issues
Point out any potential safety issues you
have observed - then make a plan to
address the problems. For example, the
person (persons) concerned might benefit
from using assistive devices to help them
reach items on high shelves. A higher toilet
seat or handrails in the bathroom might help
prevent falls. If they are no longer able to
drive safely, suggest other transportation
options -such as taking the bus or using
a taxi.
Consider home care services
Particularly if they are having trouble taking
care of themselves, you could hire someone
to clean the house and run errands and
help with daily activities, such as bathing. To
ensure good nutrition Meals on Wheels is
also an option.
And finally
It would be a good idea to secure an
Enduring Power of Attorney to ensure that
if things get worse you can step in without
having to involve the Court of Protection.
Your solicitor will be able to give you good
advice on this.
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