Seniors have a strong desire to remain independent and retain control of their lives for as long as possible. Admitting they want or need help isn’t easy, and they might downplay or hide issues from their loved ones. That’s why it’s often the caregiver’s responsibility to watch for signs a senior needs assistance before an accident, hospitalization, or significant health decline takes place. In this guide, we’ll give you the key signs an elderly parent needs help along with info about how to help elderly people at home safely and effectively with services like GoGoGrandparent.
Signs a senior needs assistance
Changes in behavior and mental status
One of the early signs a senior needs assistance is a change in cognition, memory, judgment, or mood. It could be indicative of cognitive decline if your loved one seems to:
- Forget appointments
- Lose track of time
- Struggle with decision-making
- Get confused in familiar settings
- Forget or not recognize close family members
- Have frequent memory lapses
- Exhibit signs of unsafe driving (dents or scratches in car)
- Repeat questions
- Lose drive or motivation in daily life
- Lose interest in hobbies and activities
- Exhibit extreme mood swings or agitation
- Show verbally or physically abusive behaviors
- Demonstrate significant changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or sleeping more)
How to help elderly people at home who have changes in mental status
Even if your loved one’s physical health seems okay, these behavioral changes are clear signs an elderly parent needs help. Your parent may need a checkup with a healthcare provider to take appropriate steps to address these concerns and determine the different levels of caregiving required for their situation.
If you’re concerned about your loved one driving, GoGo Rides is a safe, reliable option. GoGoGrandparent arranges rides for seniors 24/7 with just a quick and easy call to our telephone operators. Family members feel particularly good about GoGo Rides, because the online family dashboard lets you schedule rides in advance, watch your loved one’s location in real-time, and even pay for trips. Plus, our GoGoGuardians are constantly monitoring rides, screening drivers, and ensuring accessibility needs are met, so you can feel confident that someone is looking out for your loved one during their ride.
The beautiful part about GoGo Rides is that your parent still has independence and freedom of movement to do what makes them happy, and you have peace of mind that they’ll get there safely.
Changes in physical function and appearance
Physical changes are inevitable with aging, but extreme shifts may be signs a senior needs assistance. Keep an eye on the following indicators to determine if your parent requires different levels of caregiving than they have in the past:
- Significant weight loss
- Poor personal hygiene (body odor, unkempt hair, untrimmed nails, poor oral hygiene)
- Wearing soiled clothing
- Dressing inappropriately for the season/weather
- Bruises, wounds, or marks that could indicate falls or changes in mobility
- Inability to carry out basic physical tasks like climbing stairs, getting out of bed, or bathing
How to help elderly people at home with personal hygiene
These physical signs show an elderly parent needs help and may be struggling to take care of themselves. In these cases, your loved one may require different levels of caregiving, like a part-time or full-time aide in their home to help them live safely and comfortably.
It’s important to look at the root cause of their hygiene issues. Are there signs an elderly parent needs help due to depression or mental health concerns? Are they struggling to upkeep with tasks because of physical limitations? Are they forgetting personal hygiene due to cognitive changes? Before diving in with a new plan about how to help elderly people at home, chat with your parent’s healthcare provider to come up with a long-term solution and determine the different levels of caregiving required to improve their mental and physical health.
If you’re wondering how to help elderly people at home who’re struggling with hygiene due to depression, GoGoGrandparent is an excellent option. GoGo’s Home Services can help you find trusted professionals who will help keep your loved one looking and feeling their best, like in-home hair stylists, laundry professionals, and part-time caregivers. Moreover, GoGo Rides gives your loved one accessible transportation, so they have the freedom to go to the hair salon, nail salon, gym, rec centers, spas, and more to help maintain their physical wellness.
Neglecting household responsibility
If your loved one lives independently, they likely take great pride in their house. Their home is a source of comfort and independence. However, physical and mental changes can make household chores harder and they may need different levels of caregiving for their home. Here are some signs a senior needs assistance upkeeping their home:
- Changes in household cleanliness and organization
- Extreme clutter or hoarding
- Stacks of unopened mail, late payment notices, bounced checks, unpaid bills
- Utilities turned off
- Spoiled food not thrown away
- Low food supply and/or no healthy food in the house
- Stained furniture or carpets
- Urine odor in the house
- Unkempt landscaping and snow removal
- Unfilled prescriptions
How to help elderly people at home with house care
Even if you notice signs a senior needs assistance at home, you don’t need to move them into an assisted living center immediately. There are different levels of caregiving you can consider first. Your loved one may only need a part-time caregiver, or GoGoGrandparent might be the correct solution to fill in the gaps of your caregiving team and address the signs an elderly parent needs help.
For example, GoGo’s Home Services can connect your loved one to safe, reliable, trustworthy home professionals to help your parent care for their home. These professionals include landscapers, housekeepers, handymen, furniture assemblers, snow shovelers, dog walkers, pet sitters, and caregivers. You might discover that with just a few hours of help per week, your loved one will feel more comfortable and in control of their space. Many of our GoGo clients have found a renewed sense of life and vitality by hiring weekly house cleaners, dog sitters, and handymen to assist with chores and household tasks.
Depression and anxiety are signs an elderly parent needs help
Although depression can be included under the “changes in mental health” category, indicators of depression are critical signs a senior needs assistance – so much so that it’s worthy of its own section. In fact, depression is often the cause of many of the above signs an elderly parent needs help: changes in behavior, cognition, physical appearance, and housekeeping. When someone is dealing with depression, the drive and ability to handle these daily activities diminishes drastically. Different levels of caregiving may be required to help your parent stay physically and mentally healthy.
Depression is common among seniors, especially those who face health challenges or feel isolated. Studies by the CDC estimate that 7 million Americans over the age of 65 experience depression each year. Unfortunately, this age range also makes up 16% of all suicide deaths. Make sure your loved one isn’t part of the statistics by being aware of the signs an elderly parent needs help:
- Persistent sadness or anxiety
- Feelings or statements of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, worthlessness
- Irritability or restlessness
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities they once enjoyed
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping, insomnia, or oversleeping
- Moving or talking more slowly (independent of physical health changes)
- Avoidance of social interactions
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Eating more or less than usual (independent of physical health changes)
- Thoughts or statements about death or suicide
- Suicide attempts
It’s not always easy to recognize the signs an elderly parent needs help with depression, especially if you don’t see your loved one often or you live far away. Your parent might seem happy and bright during phone or video calls, but they might be exhibiting symptoms of depression when alone. If possible, home visits with your loved one every once in a while may help to recognize those signs a senior needs assistance, so you can get your parent the physical and mental help they need. If you are a remote caregiver, GoGoGrandparents’ Home Services – like part-time caregivers – may be able to help you gauge how your loved one is living.
Depression is not your loved one’s fault. Depression is common among older adults because of an increasing sense of loneliness and isolation, changes in physical health, and worrying about the future. Although depression is common amongst seniors, it’s not a normal part of growing older, and it should be considered a critical factor when addressing how to help elderly people at home.
How to help elderly people at home who are suffering from depression
- Encourage open communication with your loved one. Create a safe, non-judgmental space for them to express their feelings and emotions. Resist the urge to “solve” all their problems if they just want you to listen.
- Be patient and understanding. Depression is a real, complex condition that can be challenging to navigate. Empathy is the key to co-creating a solution to address the signs an elderly parent needs help.
- Maintain regular contact with your parent. Social isolation worsens depression, and having a loved one to talk to can make a difference. Regular check-ins can also help you monitor their physical and mental situation.
- Encourage the senior to engage in social activities and maintain connections with friends. Offer to pay for a GoGo Ride to go to the mall with a friend, try a new hobby group, or visit the local library.
- Promote physical wellness by inviting your loved one to join you on a walk. Another easy way to introduce your parent to exercise is with GoGoGrandparent’s Youtube classes for chair yoga and strength training.
- Monitor their medications, especially if they are prescribed medication for depression. Use GoGo Prescription Delivery to ensure they have all their medicine on hand, and check out these 13 tips for medication adherence.
- Offer transportation support with GoGo Rides so your loved one can attend social events, medical appointments, and hobby groups. Getting out of the house helps combat feelings of isolation and ensures your loved one have access to healthcare, daily errands, and social community.
- Use GoGoGrandparent for different levels of caregiving at home, like household tasks. Depression can make daily chores and responsibilities overwhelming, but GoGo can help. GoGo Home Services can help your loved ones take care of their home, and GoGo Grocery Delivery gives them access to fresh, healthy food. If your loved one struggles with cooking, GoGo Meal Delivery can deliver fresh, nutrient-dense foods from their favorite restaurants (which can also give a nice pick-me-up).
- Seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide appropriate support, treatment, and guidance to ensure your loved one stays healthy.
Remember that recognizing the signs an elderly parent needs help is step one to getting your loved one the different levels of caregiving they may need. Your love, patience, and commitment to your parent significantly improve their wellbeing and quality of life.
How to help elderly people at home
There’s no one-size-fits-all when determining how to help elderly people at home. Every person and situation is unique and requires different levels of caregiving. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure how to help elderly people at home, tackle each area one at a time:
- Communication: Work on open, loving communication between you and your loved one. This will help recognize signs a senior needs assistance and co-create the best solution for everyone.
- Safety modifications: Ensure your loved one’s home is safe and accessible. Check out these 12 easy, inexpensive senior home modifications to learn more. Use GoGo Home Services to find handymen to help update your loved one’s home.
- Nutrition: Help your loved one plan and prepare nutritious meals as directed by their physician or dietician. GoGo’s Grocery Delivery and Meal Delivery are easy solutions to handle this part of senior living.
- Physical activity: Explain to your loved one the importance of physical fitness. Work together to develop a safe exercise plan that will boost their mood, strength, balance, endurance, and overall physical wellness.
- Social engagement: Encourage your loved one to participate in social activities to combat feelings of loneliness, which have detrimental impacts on physical and mental health. If you’ve noticed signs an elderly parent needs help with their social life, encourage them to volunteer, find a hobby group, or attend local classes.
- Medication management: Medication adherence is critical to keeping seniors healthy. Help your loved one take their prescribed medicines on time with pill organizers, medication reminder apps, post-it notes, and GoGo Prescription Delivery.
What to do if an elderly parent refuses help
You’ve noticed signs an elderly parent needs help, but they’re refusing your assistance. Here’s how to help elderly people at home who may be more resistant to change:
- Understand their perspective. Address their fears and anxieties about losing independence, privacy, or feeling like a burden.
- Build trust and foster open communication.
- Start with small, gradual, non-intrusive tasks to increase their comfort level. Rather than throw them into full-time caregiving, offer to take them to an appointment or pay for their GoGo Rides to make their travel more comfortable. Remember that you can develop plans based on different levels of caregiving based on time, need, and comfort level.
- Respect their autonomy and involve them in the decision-making process. If they retain some control over the situation, they may be more likely to accept help.
- Share stories about how other seniors have improved their quality of life while maintaining their autonomy with independent living. You may also want to educate your parent about the risks of refusing help, like accidents, falls, or medical issues.
- Seek professional advice and help. A geriatric care manager or healthcare professional will provide objective assistance based on the observed signs a senior needs assistance.
It’s emotionally challenging when a loved one refuses different levels of caregiving. However, with patience, understanding, and open communication, you can help your parent get the assistance they need while still addressing their concerns.
Recognizing the signs an elderly parent needs help
Identifying the signs a senior needs assistance is the first step in ensuring their wellbeing and safety. Changes in behavior, physical appearance, and household upkeep can all be indicators that your loved one requires additional support. By offering appropriate caregiving solutions and embracing innovative programs like GoGoGrandparent’s services, you can help your loved ones age gracefully while maintaining their independence and quality of life. Register with GoGoGrandparent to give your loved one access to safe, reliable help to improve their quality of life.
