The holidays, as a time to come together, are a time when you may see family you haven’t seen in a while. This is a great opportunity to look for signs of well-being (or not) in your elders. Behavioral changes and shifts in level of vitality can be helpful “first clues” to the progression of age-related challenges.

According to Agingcare.com, look for subtle changes in your loved ones’ emotional well-being. You can’t always gauge someone’s spirits over the telephone, even if you speak daily. Take note for signs of depression, including withdrawal from activities with others, sleep patterns, lost of interest in hobbies, lack of basic home maintenance or personal hygiene. The latter can be an indicator not only of depression, but also of dementia or other physical ailments including dehydration, a serious condition sometimes overlooked in elders in the winter months. If you notice sudden odd behavior with your loved one, be sure to seek medical attention as it could be a urinary tract infection which is prevalent in elders and easily resolved with antibiotics.

Be Observant

The home environment is a great place to focus your attention too. For instance, your parent may have always been a stickler for neatness or for paying bills promptly. If you discover excess or unsafe clutter and mail that has piled up, a problem may exist. Also, keep an eye out for less obvious indications for concern. Scorched cookware, for example, could be a sign that your parent forgets if the stove is on. An overflowing hamper could mean he or she doesn’t have the strength and/or desire to do laundry. And by all means, check prescriptions and medication bottles for expiration dates; and make note of all prescriptions your family member takes and place that information in your personal files as well as the elder’s wallet in case of an emergency.

Communication is Key

Communicating your concerns with your elders may take a sleight of hand on the part of diplomacy. Always address concerns by respecting the elder and their right to independence. Seeking the advice of professionals can be helpful too if you are unsure about your perceptions. Delivered with love and respect, care and concern for the elder is a great gift for the season.

Broad Street can help. We provide Personal Home Care Assistants who can help manage overall healthcare and awareness. Through our vast professional network, we can help you find the right resources and doctors to help answer questions or identify areas of concern. We provide home care in Wilmette, the North Shore area of Chicago. For more information, please call 847.728.0134.