Table Talk Tuesday: Does Your Aging Parent Need Help Series
Mike Campbell | Updated June 9, 2020
Part 5: Warning Signs Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or Some Other Cognitive Impairment
How will you know when your elderly parents need help at home? One thing is certain: your parents aren’t likely to be the ones who tell you they need a helping hand! Admitting the need for help and accepting assistance are not easy for people as they age. One way to avoid this is to start regularly monitoring your parents’ physical and mental abilities and researching long-term care options. This will ensure you are prepared should your parents begin to show signs of needing help.
Warning Signs Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease or Some Other Cognitive Impairment
Forgetfulness, including forgetting to take medications or taking incorrect dosages.
Missing important appointments.
Consistent memory lapses.
Increased confusion.
Loss of reasoning skills.
Consistent use of poor judgment (e.g. falling for scams or sales pitches or giving away money).
Difficulty performing familiar tasks.
Frequently misplacing items.
Frequently getting lost when walking or driving.
Repetitive speech patterns.
Inability to complete sentences.
Changes in personality or behavior.
Poor personal hygiene and wearing the same clothes over and over.
Inability to recall names of familiar people or objects.
If you believe your parents are experiencing one or more of the above indicators, ideally the next step is to talk with them about their care needs in such a way that they are able to participate in identifying the problem and coming up with solutions. If these signs are present, it doesn’t necessarily mean a move to assisted living or a nursing home is required. However, these red flags do indicate that daily supportive care is needed. For many families, hiring help at home allows an elderly parent to stay in the comfort of their home as long as safely possible. If you find yourself answering yes to some or all of these changes to your loved one, rest assured that Indigo Nursing has a full range of caregivers ready to handle your loved one's caregiving needs. Call today to schedule a free consultation. Original article: Agingcare.com
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