By Joan Harris, LSW, MBA, CMC, July 24, 2023
Do your parents need more support…. below are some Red Flags
1.Has your parent always been well groomed and well dressed? Do you notice a slight “dirty laundry” odor, a slight smell of body odor or urine, or unwashed hair?
This can be a sign of cognitive or physical decline. They may have all sorts of excuses but you need to be a detective. Does the shower look like it has been used recently? Is your parent wearing the same clothes repeatedly because they cannot access the washer or dryer or do not remember how to use it?
What do you do?
The Primary Care Physician needs to rule out physical reasons for the changes you are seeing. If there is no physical reason, a referral should be made to a cognitive neurologist for a work up. Early diagnosis, treatment and the right support in place can be very preventative of further decline.
2. If one parent is a caregiver for the other, how tired is the caregiver and has he/she postponed their own medical appointments due to their caregiving responsibilities? What is the risk to the caregiving spouse?
“Jama: 1999: Caregiving as a risk factor for mortality: the Caregiver Health Effects Study by R. Schulz, S R Beach”
Conclusions: Our study suggests that being a caregiver who is experiencing mental or emotional strain is an independent risk factor for mortality among elderly spousal caregivers. Caregivers who report strain associated with caregiving are more likely to die than non-caregiving controls.
What do you do?
Sit down with your Caregiving Parent and help them to understand that they cannot continue to be a good caregiver if they don’t take time off each week to not only take care of their own health needs but to do things that regenerate their energy and joy in life. Caregiving is a marathon and not a sprint. Services must be in place to provide some respite.
3. Your dad has a few bruises on his face and knees when you visit. He finally admits that he has had a few falls.
What do you do?
People can suffer falls for many different reasons. If your parent has fallen a few times the probability they could have an additional and more catastrophic fall is very real. Request a physical therapy order with him from his PCP covered under his Medicare benefits to evaluate his gait and understand why he is falling. Work with him to strengthen and improve balance and provide modifications in the home to improve access and safety.