Time to Check the Health of Your Aging Parent

Your parents still live in the old family home.  They do not appear to have any significant health issues. They both are driving; you haven’t needed to take the keys aways…but… how do you know if it’s time to have a health checkup for your aging parents?

Aging is a natural part of life and with the process of getting older there are certain challenges that everyone deals with…

• the eyes don’t see like they used to
• the feet hurt when you crawl out of bed in the morning
• you just don’t have the energy to do all the things you used to do…even though your brain says you can.

This is something we all experience, but when is it time for concern?

1. Before the need arises, you should call a family meeting that includes all siblings and parents.
2. Find out what medical issues are present?
3. When and how often do your aging parents visit the Doctor?
4. Are they feeling any concerns?
5. What insurance do they have?
6. Who is their Doctor?
7. Is there a hospital they prefer if they have options?
8. What are their choices if their health starts to decline?
9. What other signs of aging do they exhibit?

It is important to clearly identify any health problems before they become worse.

Many older or aging people do not want to leave their home, but this is not always possible. Giving them a voice before the choice has to be made can make the transition easier. Also you might consider what options there are to receive healthcare at home instead.

Whether or not you have had the chance for the family meeting, there will come a time when you are wondering if your parents are healthy or if their health is starting to fail.

Here are some things you should look for to help you determine if your parents should still be living on their own:

• Do your parents take care of themselves?
  • Are their clothes clean and neat, hair combed, do they bathe and care for themselves regularly?
• Do they take care of their home and property?
  • Is the house clean and neat, the lawn mown
    and the outside appearance in good repair?
• Are your parents experiencing memory loss?
  • Not occasional forgetfulness, but a repetition of the same question, they forget where they live or get lost easily.
• Are they safe in their home?  
  • Can they still navigate the stairs, if any?  
  • Have they had a fall?
  • Are there things out of place?
  • Can they read the labels on their medicine bottles?
• Do your parents look like they have lost weight?  
  • Are they experiencing trouble cooking?  
  • Lost a sense of taste and smell that can lead a lack of appetite?
• Has their personality changed?
  • Do they seem to be more irritable than normal?
• Do your parents still hang out with friends, go on trips, enjoy their hobbies, still doing the things they’ve always done?
• Pay attention to how your parents are walking. Are they still able to get around without a struggle? Instability on their feet is a recipe for a potential fall.

If you notice that many of the items listed fit your parents, then it’s time to call a meeting!

Talk to your folks and your siblings and plan a course of action that will be best for all.

In the next few blogs we will discuss options available to help you determine what will work best for your family.