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5 Clues That Your Elderly Loved One Needs More Help

Posted: 5/24/2016 7:03 AM by Interim HealthCare

All too often your elderly loved one may need more help with some aspect of her life and yet she won't want to tell you, her family caregiver, that she needs that assistance. This could be because of pride or it might be because your loved one is having other problems. It's important to pay close attention to the details of her life.

She's Not Socializing Anymore
Gradually you may start to notice that your once outgoing loved one isn't getting together with her friends and with other family members as often as she once did. This could be because she's afraid to drive or it could be a sign that she's withdrawing. It's worth the effort to find out what might be behind this symptom.

She's Not Able to Keep up with the House
When you visit, maybe you start to realize that your loved one who used to keep her house immaculately clean is starting to let some chores go. It could be that she's just not able to keep up with them on her own or it could be that she's not noticing the situation. Regardless, it's worth investigating.

She's Not Eating Like She Used To
If your loved one is suddenly losing a lot of weight or if she's not keeping food in the house the way that she used to, she may be having a tough time with that part of her regular routine. It's possible that she's not interested in grocery shopping anymore or she may have a medical issue that she hasn't shared with you. The solution could be as simple as grocery shopping for her, but you really need to dig to the root of the problem.

She's Letting Mail Pile Up
When your loved one starts to let mail accumulate, it could be that she just doesn't want to deal with it anymore. She could also be avoiding the mail because of money issues or she just doesn't remember that there's mail that she needs to look at regularly. She may need your help to manage those affairs or she may just need to have her bills and other important matters handled virtually rather than through the mail.

She's Not Making it to Appointments
Is your loved one making appointments only to cancel them? Or maybe she's just not showing up to them at all. Either way, this can be an indication that she's afraid to drive or that she's forgetting that she even has the appointment. This can be something that's simple to resolve or it could be a sign of a larger problem.

The more you pay attention to the details, the faster you can get the help for your loved one that she truly needs.

If you or someone you love is in need of elder care please contact Interim HealthCare today!