How to Tell when Your Aging Parents Need Help

According to United States census data published in December 2005, there were 16.6 million Americans over 65 years old in 1960. By 1980, there were 25.5 million Americans over 65 years old. The number of Americans over 65 had increased to 35 million by the year 2000.

The trend of Americans living longer, healthier lives is expected to continue. Due to improved medical options, many people are able to remain independent and active their entire lives. In fact, 65 is not even considered that old any more. However, a significant minority of Americans will eventually need assistance with their daily lives due to the onset of age-related problems.

The older an individual is, the more likely they are to have serious health problems. Diseases and illnesses such as strokes, Alzheimer's disease, Cancer, Parkinson's disease, and others can rob the older individual of the ability to safely function independently. In fact, as your parents age, regular medical care is crucial since their health may change without warning.

Here are five factors to consider when determining whether your parents need assistance.

Factor One: Driving Safety
Everyone is shocked when the elderly gentleman who has never had a traffic ticket in his life suddenly drives into another vehicle. Or, what about the white-haired lady who stops at all of the green lights?

Five years ago, a vehicle crossed an intermedial island barrier and struck the car my pregnant sister-in-law was driving. An elderly woman drove that vehicle. (Fortunately, there were no fatalities and although my sister-in-law had some minor injuries she delivered a healthy baby.)

If someone you love is exhibiting these behaviors you may need to step in before your loved one, before they or someone else gets hurt.

If your elderly parent has begun to drive erratically there could be a number of physical causes for the behavior ranging from vision and hearing problems to medication-induced dizziness or confusion. Or, the cause could be something more serious like Alzheimer's disease or strokes.

It's important to discover the cause of the driving problem. Encourage your loved one to get a complete physical before they get behind the wheel again. Some problems, such as hearing loss, reactions to medication, and some vision impairment may be correctable.

However, if the cause of the problem is not correctible your elderly parent will need to give up assistance for transportation.

Factor Two: Medical Safety
Many of the elderly rely on medications to maintain their health. Some rely on more than one medication. Yet it is so easy for a person who is beginning to suffer from dementia to become confused and skip a medication, or to accidentally double up on a dose.

For some medications it's not too dangerous to skip a dose, for others there could be serious consequences. However, it can be just a dangerous and potentially fatal to accidentally ingest a dose of medication twice.

Pill organizers, labeled with the days of the week (and sometimes even labeled: morning, noon, and evening) can help your aging parent keep their medicines straight. However, if you determine that your parents are not able to take their medication as prescribed it may be an indication that they need assistance.

Factor Three: Financial Safety
There are two aspects to financial safety to consider with your aging parents. This is particularly true if one or both of them is beginning to have cognitive problems. The first question is whether or not they can manage their routine expenses. The second questions is whether than can adequately make financial decisions.

To determine if your parents are forgetting to pay bills, or misplacing invoices, look for evidence of unpaid bills or late notices when you know that they have the resources to meet their expenses. Not paying bills on time can result in your parents paying unnecessary late fees, or even in vital services being cut off. For example, you don't want your parent's phone or water to be cut off. If your parents are low-income, most utilities have special plans available for them

Adequately making financial decisions is another area to examine. Do your parents understand what pension and Medicare benefits they are entitled to? Are they likely to be pressured by salespeople into buying goods and services they don't need? Sometimes steering them to the right financial educational resource can make a huge difference.

Factor Four: ADL (Activities of Daily Living) Safety
If your parent cannot perform the activities of daily living (ADL), then they will need assistance from somebody. Sometimes that somebody is your other parent who is in better physical and mental health. Sometimes that somebody is you, the child. Or, perhaps your parent needs professional assistance. The cause for being able to perform activities of daily living can be physical, pathological, or cognitive.

Activities of daily living include:
Bathing
Using the toilet
Feeding oneself

Factor Five: Home Safety
As your parents become older, they may become more frail. Their bones may be brittle and easily break if they happen to fall. Stairs that your parents once navigated with ease may now be a challenge for them. As their coordination and strength changes, simple tasks like turning knobs may become more difficult.

According to the Administration on Aging, www.aoa.gov, up to one-third to one-half of accidents the elderly experience at home can be prevented by modification and repair to their home. Some modifications may be simple, such as installing handrails or replacing knobs with levers. Others may require more effort and expense.

Your parent's golden years do not need to be filled with danger and discomfort. With careful planning and possibly appropriate assistance, they can enjoy a safe and healthy environment.