April 28, 2012
We have known for decades of the possibility that our parents would come to a point in their lives where they would need our help. Needing our help does not necessarily mean asking for our help, and so there are a few bits of evidence that might alert you to their needs.
* Your parents’ typically tidy home now has dishes not properly cleaned, bedding not routinely laundered, and dirty bathrooms
* Unwashed pots and pans stay on the stove and counters
* The cupboards “are bare”
* Your parent’s clothing seems dirty and unkempt.
* Bathrooming skills suffer and you may detect an unclean odor
* Grooming, while important in previous years, lacks attention
* Missing appointments, especially appointments to the doctor
* One of your parents confiding in the difficulty your “other” parent is experiencing in any self-care area and/or driving
If the above indicators appear repeatedly over a given period of time, it would be wise to talk with your parents about the need for “a little extra help” around the house. Generally, this discussion takes place more than once as the desire to maintain one’s independence runs deep; and denial is often used as an aid in hanging onto that “independence”. It is important not to ignore these signs as more serious issues may arise if left unaddressed. –Linda Jungblut (BSW, MEd/Special Education, Empty Nester, Wife, Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter).
Please contact Lampglow Home Care at 404-996-0880 or visit www.lampglowhomecare.com if you would like to discuss signs that your loved one may need a little extra help.
