When traveling home for the holidays, adult children can use this as an opportunity to ensure their loved one's health is in top shape. Knowing what to look for is key.
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Checking in with Mom and Dad Over the Holidays
1. Traveling home to visit your parents over the holidays can be one
of the most special experiences of the year. But going over the hill
and through the woods to Grandma’s house isn’t just a festive
experience: it offers you a chance to see first-hand how mom and
dad are doing.
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2. The National Alliance for Caregiving estimates
that 7,000,000 Americans care for a loved
one from a distance. As the population of older
adults in the United States skyrockets, this
number will grow along with it.
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3. If you don’t see your elderly loved ones regularly, when you drop by for the
holidays, you may be surprised at the changes you observe in their mental
status and physical ability. While you are at home, use the following checklist
to evaluate how your loved ones are doing living independently.
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4. Are your loved ones acting differently?
• Do they repeat themselves frequently?
• Do they seem agitated, anxious, or depressed?
• Do they laugh at old stories and visit old friends,
or have they become more antisocial?
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5. How is their health?
• Have they lost weight? Weight loss can be a
sign of illness and/or malnourishment, and should be
brought to a physician’s attention.
• Are they unstable on their feet or holding
onto furniture to walk?
• Do they report falling?
• Do they recognize that they need to use a
cane, walker, or bathroom grab bars?
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6. Are they taking care of themselves?
• Do they appear clean?
• Do they dress like they always have?
• Are they drinking more alcohol?
• Are their prescriptions current?
• Do they identify a need for help with a bath?
Look for bruising.
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7. Are they in control of their finances?
• What kind of shape is the checkbook in?
• Are any of the checks to people or
organizations you are unfamiliar with?
• Do you find unpaid or delinquent bills in
the desk?
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8. Are they in control of domestic life?
• Are messages left on the answering machine?
• Is there fresh, nutritious food in the cupboard
and refrigerator?
• Are smoke detectors working correctly?
• Is the microwave oven clean?
• Are there burn marks anywhere?
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9. Side note: Now is a good time to do minor upkeep on
your parents’ home. Replace all the batteries while you
are home. Check the electrical outlets for burning and
remove extension cords. Replace open, electrical space
heaters. Place them away from furniture.
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10. Here for you and your family
throughout the entire holiday season.
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