The holiday season is officially upon us, which often means visits to loved ones we may not see frequently. With the Covid restrictions over the past couple of years, it may have been even longer than normal for you to have visited a loved one. As you spend some time together, you may notice things that cause concern about their safety or well-being, such as:
- Spoiled or out of date food, or a lack of food in the home
- Unintended weight loss or gain
- Unfilled prescriptions, or medication misuse
- Past due or unpaid bills
- Physical frailty and/or falls
- Changes in mood, personality or demeanor
- Home or yard not being taken care of
- Person appearing disheveled, or lacking in hygiene
- Missed appointments
The presence of these signs may indicate your loved one is having cognitive and/or physical challenges, and may need assistance. Pay attention to what you are seeing, and if there are any patterns in behavioral changes. For example, do they seem more confused later in the afternoon or early evening? Are they skipping meals, or wearing the same clothes each day? If there is a sibling, friend or other relative who sees the person more frequently, ask them if they have noticed any concerning behaviors. Don’t be afraid to share your concerns, but do so in a calm, loving, nonjudgmental way. The key thing is to ensure that your loved one is safe to continue living as they have been, & if they are not, to take steps to ensure their safety and wellbeing. That may involve bringing caregivers into their home to help, or to look into assisted living options. If you need help addressing concerns about a loved one, or in finding care options, give us a call. Even if your loved one is outside of the Richmond area, we can help you find care options throughout the country, or just help guide you through this challenging process.