{"id":1691,"date":"2012-09-10T12:01:53","date_gmt":"2012-09-10T19:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archive.healwithin.com\/?p=1691"},"modified":"2012-09-10T12:01:53","modified_gmt":"2012-09-10T19:01:53","slug":"a-labor-of-love-aging-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hw.arbpenconsulting.com\/?p=1691","title":{"rendered":"A Labor of Love – Aging Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Labor of Love for Aging parents: 7 warning signs of health problems<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Watching an older parent become frail and disintegrate \u2014\u00a0becoming isolated and depressed<\/a> \u2014 is among the most difficult stresses experienced by adult children today.\u00a0 They don\u2019t have to mind us or even listen \u2013 since they have always been the adult.<\/p>\n

What prompted this discussion was\u00a0witnessing\u00a0many of my friends feeling anxious<\/a> in\u00a0dealing with the health of their parent and its effects on them\u00a0both physically and mentally, plus the emotional factors.<\/p>\n

I believe it\u2019s honorable and right for adult children to convince their parents to try options that will make their lives safer, healthier and more pleasant. Nonetheless, no one can force parents to do anything against their will as long as they\u2019re mentally competent.<\/p>\n

So what do you do if you have a parent like this? Two simple words: Let go \u2013 pray!<\/p>\n

In relations\u00a0to eldercare, there\u2019s only one person you can count on or control: you.\u00a0 Once you\u2019ve done as much as you can to help, you have to stop; there may be some things you can\u2019t change.\u00a0 Below is a list of\u00a07\u00a0warning signs for you to become watchful\u00a0and to\u00a0prepare yourself.<\/p>\n

1. Are your aging parents dressed appropriately?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pay attention to your parents\u2019 appearance. Are their clothes clean? Do they appear to be taking good care of themselves? Failure to keep up with daily routines \u2014 such as bathing, tooth brushing and other basic grooming \u2014 could indicate dementia, depression<\/a> or physical impairments.<\/p>\n

Also pay attention to your parents\u2019 home. Are the lights working? Is the heat on? Are the bathrooms clean? Is the yard overgrown? Any big changes in the way your parents do things around the house could provide clues to their health. For example, scorched pots could mean your parents are forgetting about food cooking on the stove. Neglected housework could be a sign of depression, dementia or other concerns.<\/p>\n

2. Are your aging parents experiencing memory loss?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone forgets things from time to time. Modest memory problems are a fairly common part of aging, and sometimes medication side effects or underlying conditions contribute to memory loss. There\u2019s a difference, though, between normal changes in memory and the type of memory loss associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other types of dementia. Consider your aging parents. Are memory changes limited to misplaced glasses or an occasionally forgotten appointment? Or are memory changes more concerning, such as forgetting common words when speaking, getting lost in familiar neighborhoods or being unable to follow directions? If you\u2019re concerned about memory loss for either of your aging parents, schedule an evaluation with the doctor.<\/p>\n

3. Are your aging parents safe in their home?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take a look around your parents\u2019 home, keeping an eye out for any red flags. Do your parents have difficulty navigating a narrow stairway? Has either parent fallen recently? Are they able to read directions on medication containers?<\/p>\n

4. Are your aging parents safe on the road?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Driving can sometimes be challenging for older adults. If your aging parents become confused while driving or you\u2019re concerned about their ability to drive safely, it might be time to stop driving. To help your aging parents maintain their independence, suggest other transportation options \u2014 such as taking the bus, using a van service, hiring a driver or taking advantage of other local transportation options.<\/p>\n

5. Have your aging parents lost weight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Losing weight without trying could be a sign that something\u2019s wrong. For aging parents, weight loss could be related to many factors, including:<\/p>\n