Home for the holidays, only to realize that your elderly parent isn’t thriving? Here are some signs:
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Significant weight gain or loss
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Spoiled food in the fridge
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Untidy personal appearance
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Piles of papers and mail
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Feelings of loneliness and isolation
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Neglected pet
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Not participating in usual activities
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Confusion and memory issues
This is a normal part of life transition but it can be really scary to find your parent living like this. It might be time to talk about a change. This can mean setting up more support in their home, such as hiring a caregiver, setting up meal deliveries, or providing housekeeping. It might be time to reorganize the home, so that getting around is easier and safer.
If those options won’t solve the problem, it might be time to talk about moving into supportive housing. Either way, if you see symptoms like the ones I’ve listed above, I recommend you make an appointment with your parent’s doctor to bring them into the discussion and find out what resources are available. If necessary, they will connect you with a social worker to help you navigate the changes ahead. Find out more about booking an assessment for home and community services in BC.
Coming home to find your parent struggling with the activities of daily living can be really sad and hard. And it can feel like you are betraying them or taking away their independence if you intervene. But you can put this time together to good use, figuring out solutions together that will make your parent much happier and safer in the new year.
If a move to more supportive housing is the solution, book a Consultation with Anney to fast-track the process and eliminate a whole lot of stress for everyone.
Anney Ardiel Consulting 