After a continued period of social distancing, traveling restrictions, and limited opportunities to see loved ones in person, were you able to visit with your aging parent during the holidays? Even though technology has enabled many of us to remain connected, there are certain things that you can do, or that are easier to notice, in person.
When you are visiting in person with an aging parent, it is important to pay attention to even the tiniest detail. Even small changes can make a tremendous impact on longevity and the ability to age in place. In addition, small changes can bring to your attention that there may be something seriously wrong. For example, when your parent is dealing with day to day tasks there may be physical impairments that reveal the fact that your aging parent needs in-home care.
We know this can be a challenging time for your parent and you. We would like to review five significant changes that may mean it is time for your parent to get some in-home care help.
1. You are noticing that your parent is having difficulty getting around. In fact, do there seem to be mobility issues you have not seen since the last time you visited? For instance, have you noticed your parent is apprehensive about moving around or seems to be bracing him- or herself on furniture? Your parent may be worried about the ability to move safely about the house.
2. Your parent is having trouble managing medications. In visiting your aging parent you notice the medicine cabinet in disarray and you see expired prescriptions lying around. Difficulty in managing medications can be dangerous on a number of levels.
3. The house does not appear to be well maintained. Is the living area noticeably in disarray or messy looking? Is there food in the kitchen? If yes, is it expired? Keeping up with a house and providing yourself good nutritious meals is a big job for anyone. As you age it may be increasingly difficult.
4. Maintaining proper hygiene is a struggle for your aging parent. Have you noticed that your parent seems unkempt? Your parent may be having difficulty keeping up with proper hygiene habits. However, your parent may feel unsafe showering or has simply let hygiene habits fall by the wayside.
5. Your parent may need to stop driving. Does your parent express concern about driving safely on the road? Have you noticed any new dents in your parent’s vehicle? It is true that giving up driving can be a difficult thing to confront but it may be necessary in order to keep your loved one and others on the road safe.
We know this is a challenging time to navigate and even harder to plan for. Should you need assistance with addressing the long-term care needs of your parent or aging loved one, as well as with related legal matters, such as how you will pay for the care they need, our office remains committed to serving you in any way we can. We know working through legal matters can be exhausting. You may have many questions, but not know where to find the answers. At Poucher Law, we work closely with clients to help them find the answers they need. Please contact our law practice to learn more.
We do telephone, computer, and face-to-face appointments. Our face-to-face appointments are held outside in the open air (frequently selected by clients for document signing) and inside our office conference room. We follow all CDC guidelines. Our office procedures adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols and are designed and enhanced by medical review and air quality engineering.