How to Tell If Your Parents Need Help
Much of the time, your parents won't tell you if they need help. Sometimes it's pride that keeps them quiet; other times it's fear of being put in a nursing home or assisted living situation. But if your parents are getting older, you need to be on the lookout for certain signs that show your parents might need help. By keeping an eye out for changes in behavior, you'll be able to step in early on and help your parents live independently for as long as possible.
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Instructions
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Monitor the state of their home. If you notice that your parents' house is falling into disrepair, or that their home is dirty and unkempt when it used to be clean, this may mean they don't have the faculties to keep doing the everyday chores and tasks they are used to. Check the refrigerator and cabinets -- do they have enough food? Maybe they aren't able to get to the grocery store or maintain their garden. You may be able to provide help yourself by offering to shop or clean for them a few times a month.
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Monitor their health. Your parents may have health problems and not know it -- or not tell you about it. If you see that your parent is falling down a lot, or has lost a lot of weight in a short time, you should suggest that they go to the doctor. Parents also might become forgetful beyond the threshold of normal forgetfulness. If they're forgetting things they've known for years, it may be time to get help.
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Keep an eye on their hygiene. It's one thing if your dad's beard is a little shaggy, but if one of your parents has completely stopped bathing for no reason, that definitely indicates an inability or lack of desire to care for oneself. Your parents could have health problems, or they may be depressed -- which is all too common with widowers and other parents who live alone.
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Keep in touch with your parents even if they're fine at the moment. You may live across the country, but you can still check in at least once a week to make sure things are going well. If you worry about your parents' mental and emotional health, ask them what they had for dinner or how the spring cleaning is going. If their answers to routine questions are vague or evasive, they may be hiding something from you.
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Tips & Warnings
Your parents may be worried they'll be forced into a nursing home. Make sure they know you don't want to take away their independence; you just want to make sure they have what they need.
References
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