Adult children are often too busy with their own lives to notice if their aging parents are in need of some assistance. In contrast, many older adults don’t want to feel like a burden to anyone, so they keep their mobility or health issues to themselves. Whether it’s trying to hold on to the parent-child role, maintaining their pride, or are in self-denial, elderly parents who actually need the help will not ask for it. Even if you are busy juggling your professional and personal life, taking a few minutes out of your day to check up on your elderly parents may save their lives. The best way to decide if your parent needs professional help from a certified and licensed caregiver is by making an unannounced home visit. When you surprise them with a visit, they don’t have time to stage their home, bedroom, kitchen, or pull themselves together to give you the appearance that all is well. Here are 6 telltale signs you need to hire a licensed home care agency for your elderly parent:
- Weight Loss
If you noticed your parent had lost a significant amount of weight from the last time you saw them, then this is a red flag that they are not consuming enough calories. The reason for the unexplained weight loss can be from not being able to drive themselves to the grocery store to buy food necessary to prepare their own meals. A licensed, bonded, and insured caregiver will buy the groceries and prepare the food, assuring your parent gets at least three nutritious meals a day, plus snacks. - Dirty Appearance
Older adults who stop maintaining their appearance or hygiene may have underlying health issues that have a direct effect on their cognitive health. Mental illness such as depression also impacts a person’s desire to wash, bathe, and change into clean clothes. Hiring a professional licensed home care agency to match a licensed caregiver assures your elderly parent bathes and changes their clothes regularly. - Scrapes, cuts, and bruises
Take a good look at your elderly parents’ appearance from head to toe. Look for any bruising, cuts, scrapes, or almost healed wounds. If you do see them on your aging parent, they are clear indicators that they need a professional licensed home caregiver as soon as possible. While they may be minor, if left ignored, these small injuries will lead to major injuries. Every year, 3 million elderly adults are treated in the ER for fall-related injuries, and 1 in 5 falls cause serious injuries such as broken bones or head injuries. - Unmaintained Home
If your parent has always maintained a well-groomed yard, clean home, and kept their belongings organized, but on your recent visit, you notice the opposite — then this is a telltale sign they need help. They may have mobility issues, arthritis, depression, or early onset of dementia which prevents them from maintaining their home and making proper judgments. An unmaintained home is hazardous for your elderly parent and if left ignored it can be a real-life danger zone. Dangers include slips, falls, leaks, fires, infestations, mold growth, structural damages, electrocution, or getting stuck in a room due to belongings blocking the door. - Forgets Who You Are
If your elderly parent doesn’t remember your name or let alone recognize you, then they may be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. These diseases should not be overlooked as just forgetfulness because they are serious. When left alone, seniors with dementia are not only a danger to themselves but to others. Some seniors may forget that they have something on the stove and cause a fire. There have been many reports where an elderly person walks outside and forgets their way back home. Don’t wait until you see severe signs to get help. Hire home care in Falls Church who is experienced in dementia care. - Not the Same Emotionally
Emotions are changeable, but if your parent has always been a happy positive person and then all of a sudden, they are sad, standoffish, or aren’t interested in catching up with family time, then they may be going through some emotional and mental distress. They can be clinically depressed due to losing a loved one, body changes from aging, or from being isolated for long periods of time. When left ignored, depression can grow worst, leading to self-inflicted harm. When you hire a licensed home care agency, such as Safe and Secure Transition Home Care, you are not only hiring a professional health worker for your parent but also a companion to prevent loneliness.
If you are searching for caring, trustworthy, professional, licensed, bonded, and insured senior home care in McLean or home care in Falls Church, please contact Safe and Secure Transition Home Care at 703-539-0411 or Click the Image Below:
Our home care agency is a home care provider in northern Virginia providing home care in Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington, Burke, Springfield, Fairfax, Vienna and McLean
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