Can Your Aging Loved One Still Live Alone?

Throughout the course of our life, we all need help in one way or another, but how we define it changes as we age. It might come as insight on homework as a young student, or collaboration with an office colleague as an adult, or assistance with grocery trips as a senior because as The Beatles sang it, we “get by with a little help from (my) friends.”

Yet as we age, it often becomes harder to admit we need help – especially when it means asking for assistance from those for whom you’ve always been the caregiver. Because of this, it is important to be able to identify signs that a parent or loved one may be struggling with daily tasks or unable to safely live alone. Although the signs may seem obvious, the call for help is often silent.

Is your loved one…

• Forgetting to take daily medication, supplements or vitamins
  Are they dependent on you or their spouse to remember?

• Struggling with home maintenance
  Is their spotlessly clean kitchen or pristine landscaping looking messy?

• Contacting family members about the same issue multiple times.
  Have they called you about an upcoming appointment more than once in a day?

• Falling or having unexplained bruises on their body
  Are they falling more often or do you have concerns about falls they don’t tell you about?

• Suffering from multiple conditions that make regular tasks more difficult
  Does your loved one have arthritis and poor vision which can make it difficult to navigate their home?

• Receiving late notices or calls about unpaid bills or bounced checks
  Are they neglecting to pay their monthly bills on time or losing track of personal finances?

• Displaying signs of poor personal hygiene or a decline in personal appearance
  Do they have body odor, bad breath, or unclean and disheveled clothing?

• Driving a vehicle with new or unexplained dents, scratches or missing parts
  Are they having difficulty maneuvering their car because of limitations with eye sight and/or mobility?

• Showing signs of depression or loneliness
  Would they benefit from socializing with people their same age at a retirement community or organization

While the signs your aging loved one may need help can be easy to spot, having a conversation to address them is often difficult – especially when there is denial from your aging loved one, family members or caregivers.

If your aging loved one is beginning to show signs of decline…

Take time to address home safety concerns with all family members or caregivers like cleaning cluttered rooms, clearing outdoor pathways, installing more stair rails or adding bars in the bathrooms.

Talk about areas of decline as you see them instead of saving it for one big conversation or allowing it to become an emergency situation. You can also plan to discuss areas of concern at doctor’s appointments, as it may be easier for a doctor to have or initiate the dialogue.

Begin to explore a continuing care retirement community (CRCC) and other assisted living options as it is beneficial to understand application and admission processes in addition to any waitlist requirements for communities or home care services. Plus, speaking with an admissions team at a CRCC or home health care service can help you determine exactly what your aging loved one needs to make every day a safe and happy one.

At a continuing care retirement community (CRCC), like St. Anne’s Retirement Community, your loved one can find all the levels of care they may need in one place – from independent living, to assisted living, to personal care, to rehabilitation services, to skilled nursing care and memory support. For more information about St. Anne’s Retirement Community, or to discuss the needs of your aging loved ones, please call 717-285-5443.