Caregiver Article: Signs Your Parents Can’t Live On Their Own

We have included many signs that your parents or loved ones cannot live alone, read more below.

Life conditions – One of the first and most obvious signs that your parents are not doing well at home on their own is the state of your home. Your father may have once been very clean, organized, but now the interior of his house is cluttered and cluttered. There may be dirty clothes everywhere, dirty dishes piled up in the sink or on the countertops, moldy food in the refrigerator, or no food at all. All of these are warning signs that there are problems in the home that you should also pay close attention to. It may mean bringing someone in to help with cleaning the house and with some household chores. Or it could be a sign that they may need to be transferred to a care facility to provide meals and take care of their accommodation.

Behavioral signs – A common sign of problems with parents who live alone and have difficulties is over or under medication. Your father may have started drinking alcohol or using drugs, which is something he wouldn’t normally do. Any unusual behavior may be important to address before it becomes a bigger problem.

Physical signs – You may notice that your father has gained a significant amount of weight or has lost weight. If so, they may not be eating properly, or not eating at all. Be on the lookout for any change in weight because this could be a sign of poor nutrition, poor appetite, or an unhealthy diet.

Your father may begin to show signs of noticeable bruises, sores, or cuts on his face, head, or body from a fall. They may not remember how they received these marks or they may be covering up for a spouse who might be physically abusing them. Learning more about these bruises, cuts, or sores is critical to ensuring that your loved one has a safe quality of life.

Financial signals – If you are the POA (Power of Attorney) of your parents and have noticed that your bank account has been drained of all your money or that large amounts are missing, that could be a sign that they are not doing well at home. and with your finances. Your credit cards can be maxed out with strange purchases that come home. Spam may be starting to accumulate in the home, and a growing number of charities have been sending out information seeking donations. This could be a sign that your parents may be giving to all the charities they know. A big red flag could be an increasing number of strangers coming to your door asking for money, whether legitimately or not.

You may also notice that unpaid bills or utilities have been disconnected due to missing or unpaid bills. Or the bill collectors have been calling, which may be causing your loved one stress because you don’t understand why you are getting these calls.

Should you decide to transfer your father?

If you decide to move your parents into your home or the home of a relative, keep in mind that this is a life-changing decision for you and your parents with Alzheimer’s disease. Not only is it a great transition for everyone involved, but also for parents it can add more confusion to your already confusing life. It is critical that this situation is not resolved for one reason or another that you have a backup plan in place. Creating a backup plan before the move will help with the move and will also reduce parental stress. When I suggest a backup plan, I mean to have another place for the parent to move in as well, be it a siblings home or a care facility.

Sometimes when a parent moves in with us, we may not have realized before that they have more needs than we initially thought. It is not a sign of failure if your care needs become too much for you to handle at home. It is a sign of strength to recognize this and not just ask for help, but seek help in your community, such as your local healthcare center or through your family physician, who can guide you in navigating our complex healthcare system. Integrated Home Health, which can be accessed by contacting Interior Health for more information.

• Talk to your family first
• Explain the situation to your children.
• Talk to your spouse
• Consider your relationship with your parents
• Work schedule and activities
• Increased living expenses
• Renovations
• Create a backup plan

The “talk” with your parents

Talking to your parents means having a conversation with them about the possibility of moving in with you or another family member. These tips are important to remember when having a conversation with anyone with Alzheimer’s disease:

• Keep the conversation positive and brief.
• Don’t yell or argue because this puts stress on your parents, and with Alzheimer’s you should reduce their stress rather than increase it.
• Discuss the benefits of moving into the family home.
• Only make promises that you can keep. You need to build trust with this parent.
• Include your parents in planning this move, but if you notice your parents getting nervous or stressed during this conversation, break the planning down into small tasks so they don’t get overwhelmed.
• If your father has a pet, try to accommodate him by bringing the animal home. Pets are a great comfort.
• Ask for your parents’ input and incorporate what they want into your planning.
• Assure the person that you will always be there for him or her.
• Don’t focus on negative issues or past conflicts. It’s about here and now.
• Focus on current problems.
• Never, never speak contemptuously to your parents. Treat them with respect and maintain their dignity.

Seek the help of your family doctor.

Contact a local counselor or therapist.

Contact the Alzheimer’s Society

Power of Attorney and Health Care Directives