Holidays are a good time to check in with parents, elderly relatives

The holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends. For adult children with aging parents or relatives, they are also a good time to check in and make sure that their family members are living a full, healthy life with all the support and care they need.

“People who do not see their parents or older relatives on a regular basis might not be aware of their current health status,” said Aileen Carlson, executive director of The Watermark at Trinity, an assisted living and memory care community in the Pasco County neighborhood of Trinity. “The holidays are a great time to make sure that mom, dad and grandparents are doing well and are still able to properly manage their home and health.”

While parents or relatives may say that they are doing fine, there are a number of signs to look for that may suggest otherwise, including:

• Deferred home maintenance. Pay special attention to things such as broken appliances, a leaky roof and/or an overgrown lawn. While separately these may not be a big deal, together they may suggest that caring for the home has become difficult.
• Poor housekeeping. If your parents have always been neat and tidy, and suddenly you are finding cobwebs, mold or dust throughout their home, this may be a sign that they are in need of housekeeping help or a lower-maintenance living situation.
• Stacks of unopened mail. If you notice unopened bills, letters from banks, creditors and/or insurers, as this may be a sign that your loved one is having difficulty managing their mail and/or finances.
• Changes in appearance. Does your loved one wear the same outfit every time you see them? Or perhaps they were once clean-shaven and now they have an unkempt beard? Or have they lost a lot of weight? These are possible signs they may be unable to keep up with his or her daily care.

“If you notice that your loved one is struggling to manage these day-to-day activities, it may be time to consider learning about the assisted living or home care options in the area,” said Carlson. “While this can be a difficult decision, taking this next step will ensure they are well taken care of and can enjoy life without the burdens of these daily tasks.”

For more information on The Watermark at Trinity, visit trinity.watermarkcommunities.com.

About The Watermark at Trinity

Located in Trinity, Fla., The Watermark at Trinity is a 117-apartment assisted living and memory care community in the Pasco County suburb of Trinity. Differentiators of the new community include certified staff, continuous care and hands-on educational programming. Owned and managed by Watermark Retirement Communities, The Watermark at Trinity is committed to creating an extraordinary community where people thrive.

About Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc.

In 2016, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) ranked Tucson-based Watermark Retirement Communities as the sixteenth largest senior housing operator in the U.S. Watermark’s commitment to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive dates back nearly 30 years to when it opened its first retirement community in 1987. A privately held company with a reputation of service, success, growth, integrity and financial stability, Watermark Retirement Communities manages 39 retirement communities coast to coast.