How to Tell if Mom or Dad Needs Help (Blog)

Hi All, Barb Dales here from DesMoinesConnections.com (aka Iowa Elder Care Management, LLC, and Keller Williams Realty)...

Are you not quite sure when to step in or ask for help with your folks or elderly people that you might be responsible for? Here are the most common warning signs to look for (provided by the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers, which I belong to):        

Ten Warning Signs that Mom or Dad may need help 

1. Personal hygiene – Is he shaving? Does she shower less frequently, wear dirty clothes, or have neglected teeth? Are there any injuries that you can see? Is there a urine smell?

2. Forgetfulness – Are there stacks of unopened mail or newspapers, unpaid bills, unfilled prescriptions or missed appointment slips?

3. Interaction/Behavior – Does she constantly repeat questions? Can he carry on an extended conversation? Does he refuse any suggestion or does he just agree with everything said? Does he retain what was said? Are there any apparent mood swings? Is he unusually loud or quiet? Is she angry? Making phone calls at all hours of the night?

4. Relationships – Do friends call? Have relationships changed in such a way that friends and neighbors have expressed concerns? Has she quit socializing or participating, when she has always kept those fun appointments?

5. Mobility/Medication – Can she get around? Can he take medications without supervision? What are the medications? Who goes to the doctor with him? Is he going to the doctor at all or does she refuse to go?

6. Refrigerator/Eating Habits – Does it contain adequate food? Is there any spoiled food present? Have his eating habits changed? Has she lost weight? Has she missed meals or have a lack of appetite?

7. Shopping – Can he determine tips or does he have difficulty? Any problems making change, writing checks?

8. Buying things he doesn’t need – Is there evidence of excessive shopping, ordering. Is the mail full of charitable letters, a sign that he is giving out money to anyone who asks?

9. House – Does it look maintained, or is it in disrepair? Is dust accumulating where (at one time) she was a great housekeeper? Is trash accumulating?

10. Driving – Can he drive safely? Is her reaction time adequate on the road? Any signs of an accident?

You don't need to have all of these things happen before you seek help. And you're not alone. If you need an assessment done to determine just what steps to take, please call me...Barb Dales at 515-419-9144 or email me at DesMoinesConnections@gmail.com. That's what I'm here for and that's what I do.