As your loved one ages, you might worry about their physical and mental health. You may want to know how to detect when your elderly family member needs help to provide them with the support that they need. There are programs that enable the elderly to continue living in their homes, so you don’t necessarily need to send your loved one to a Connecticut nursing home.
Difficulty with essential tasks
Observe your family member’s ability to handle essential tasks like brushing their teeth, getting dressed, bathing, cooking and housekeeping. You could also ask them if anything has become difficult for them to do. Consider reassuring them that you’ll support them in living the lifestyle that they want to. They might not want to open up out of fear that you’ll try forcing them out of their home.
Damage to their car
If you notice scratches or dents on their car, then they might have a decline of vision, cognition or coordination. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they do, as accidents sometimes happen. You may want to look for other signs that they are having a health decline that would make it dangerous for them to continue driving without addressing their health issues.
Elder abuse
It’s possible that your loved one is going through abuse, so you may not want to automatically assume that injuries or financial problems mean that they aren’t able to continue living alone. People sometimes overlook elder abuse because of this assumption. Many elders today talk to people online, which opens them up to scams and abuse. Their abuser may stick to harming them through online means, or they could meet your loved one. Other people, including family members, in their life could abuse them as well. Elder law protects the elderly from all forms of abuse and neglect, including abandonment and exploitation.
Elder abuse and neglect symptoms that you could watch for are unexplained injuries, even if they are bruises or scratches. Other signs include an unusual change in your loved one’s behavior and financial problems.