Aging Parents
As a child of aging parents, it can be difficult to know when it’s the right time to get help. It’s natural for anyone to feel uncomfortable or guilty when enlisting the help of others to assist with the care of aging parents.
Oftentimes, these feelings revolve around being unsure if it’s the right time to get help. Being aware of some common signs that it’s time to get some help with your aging parents can make it easier to navigate this sometimes challenging process because we all know how the U.S. public health system works.
Signs That It’s Time to Get Help
There is a range of signs that can indicate that it’s time to get help for your aging parent. Being aware of these signs can make it easier to determine when it’s time for you to reach out and get the help you need to care for your aging parent.
Increased Isolation
One clear sign that can be easy to ignore in your aging parent is an increase in self-isolation and a withdrawal from normal activities. While it may be easy to brush this off as them being tired, it can often be more serious than it seems.
Whether it’s due to your aging parents feeling physically unable to engage in the activities that they used to, or an increased desire to spend time alone, this is typically a sign that they need more involved help. Being able to engage in normal activities is a significant determinant of someone’s quality of life, so when one stops doing so, it can have a negative impact on how much they enjoy life.
If you find that your aging parent is beginning to isolate themself and withdraw from normal, everyday activities it may be time to get help.
Difficulty with Self-Care
Whether it’s due to being physically unable, falling, not remembering, or not being motivated, if your aging parent is showing signs of having difficulty engaging in self-care, it’s probably time to get help.
Self-care comes in many different forms and can include bathing, brushing one’s teeth, clipping one’s fingernails, and wearing clean garments. Though it may not be time to start being concerned if your aging parent has one day when they forget to clip their toenails, recurring occurrences of this nature are worthy of attention.
An important part of good health is being hygienic consistently. If your aging parent is unable to do so, it’s probably a good idea to find outside help to make sure that they are being hygienic and healthy on a consistent basis.
Decline in Mental Function
While it can be difficult to face, if your aging parent is beginning to experience a decline in mental functions then it’s probably time to get some help.
When older adults begin suffering from memory loss and an inability to think clearly, their ability to take care of themself and stay safe can suffer as a result. It’s important to look out for signs such as forgetting important things consistently or frequent instances of brain fog when determining whether it’s time to get help caring for your aging parent.
If you begin to see signs that point to a decline in your aging parent’s mental functions, it’s probably time to start looking for some outside help to ensure their safety and good health.
Resources to Get the Help You Need
Finding the resources that align with your specific needs can make the process of getting help to care for your aging parents easier and less stressful. Understanding the types of care available can also help you determine which is right for your particular situation.
A great place to start looking for help is through public health resources. Many government-offered resources can help you get different forms of assistance to help care for your aging parents. There are even resources for instances when older adults are being mistreated, such as adult protective services, which you can contact if you believe an older adult is being mistreated in some way.
There are also private services available that specialize in assisted care for older adults. Through these services, you may be able to find extra care that can give you peace of mind when you’re unable to be with your parents to care for them. This solution offers options and flexibility as you can adjust the amount of time that you receive additional help caring for your aging parent.
Though it can sometimes be difficult, for some the best option is to look to assisted living facilities for help with an aging parent. These facilities can help ensure that your aging parent is provided with care at all times of day and greatly decrease the chances of them having a serious accident of some sort.
Taking the Leap and Asking for Help
Though it isn’t always easy, it’s sometimes necessary to get help to take care of your aging parents. By getting the right type of help, you can improve the lives of your aging parents while ensuring their safety and good health.
Being aware of the signs you should look out for and the forms of assistance available can make the process of getting help easier, less stressful, and more beneficial.
Aside from getting a caregiver, remember that you should also seek help from physicians and dentists to keep your parents’ health in check. Speaking of dentists, you can check out this one who provides emergency care, root canals, and superior dental implants Las Vegas.
