3 Signs Your Loved One May Need More Help

Over the years, we’ve worked with a lot of families, with the majority of them already knee-deep in a health crisis. It can seem like things are going along okay . . . until they aren’t. We get it - it can be difficult to know when to step in. Below are three common experiences that can point to a need for more help. Please note these signs are not necessarily indicators that a person is not able live at home or alone anymore. Instead, these signs point to potential transitions that need to be addressed before there is a crisis.

3 Signs your loved one may need more help

1) Your loved one has had more than one fall.

While avoiding falls entirely (at any age) is unrealistic, frequent falls can be an indicator that something else is going on and needs to be addressed. Falls can happen for a variety of reasons, including limitations in mobility, changes in gait (walking patterns), visual impairment, reduced muscle strength, and poor reaction times.  Your loved one could be falling due to one of the above factors, or something else such as a change in medication that is making them unsteady. An increased frequency in falls is a sign to check in with a geriatrician or primary care provider. 

2) Your loved one is losing weight. 

As we age, our weight typically stabilizes. Medications may cause us to retain or release water, but, for the most part, weight remains relatively constant. Therefore, if you notice your loved one losing weight, so much that it is noticeable, there may be other factors at play. As we age, our sense of smell can decrease along with the number of taste buds, which combined, lead to food not tasting as good as it once did. In addition to checking with a doctor to ensure something else isn’t going on, we can supplement our loved one’s diet with high protein drinks (Ensure, for example), and/or create meals that are more visually appealing and varied in texture. Additionally, your loved one may not enjoy cooking anymore just for themselves, or doesn’t enjoy eating alone, and, as a result, doesn’t bother preparing a meal. While snacking or grazing is fine, their losing weight may indicate they aren’t getting the nutrition they need.

3) Your loved one stopped engaging in activities they used to enjoy.

It’s difficult to watch our loved one stop doing the very activities that used to bring them joy. Again, there are a variety of factors that may be influencing why they stopped. Perhaps they have undiagnosed hearing loss that makes crowded places less enjoyable as they have difficulty following conversations. Another reason could be that they no longer feel comfortable driving to a particular activity. While they may not be ready to give up their licenses entirely, they may be starting to self-select where and when they drive. A third common factor for no longer participating in things they enjoy could be depression. While depression is not a normal part of aging, depression can occur more frequently in older adults due to increased losses (of friends, of their mobility, e.g.)

While these three examples are not reasons that people can no longer stay at home, they are indicators that transitions are happening with your loved one’s health. The good news is that there are solutions, possibilities and resources available to you. Schedule your free consultation call today to see how our services can support your loved one’s aging journey.