Now that the holiday season is in full swing, many will have the opportunity to spend quality time with family. This much cherished time may include discussing health decline in aging parents.  It also allows siblings to compare notes on how they are seeing the effects of age-related health issues on mom or dad's daily activities. It's very difficult to take an honest look at a once capable parent who raised you. The reality of what you might see is difficult to believe and comes with many questions and concerns.  

You're not the only family discussing your parents' well-being at gatherings. The holiday season is a popular time for adult children of aging parents to make very difficult decisions that lead to the best support mom or dad needs as they are showing health decline.

 What do you see in mom or dad that causes you concern? Let's take a closer look.

      Social Isolation

When one parent has passed away, because the other is left alone, feelings of grief, loneliness, and isolation can lead to health issues that    make it difficult to return to a healthy enough state required to live alone. The older one becomes, the harder it is for physical and cognitive rebound.

      Maintenance Required

Maintaining the lawn and garden, snow removal, as well as indoor maintenance, daily cleaning, laundry, and dishes, is all beyond the    physical limitations of your loved one. They can’t meet the required care the home needs inside and out on their own.

     Senior Safety Features  

Family members find themselves scrambling to put safety bars and mobility devices in homes to meet the needs of physical decline. At some point, there simply aren't enough safety devices that can meet the challenges of physical decline your mom or dad is facing.

     Poor Nutrition

Many seniors who face physical decline also live in a state of malnutrition because of the lack of physical or cognitive ability to do their grocery shopping or the inability to properly make a healthy meal. Rather than making a meal, they will eat canned food and allow food that should be refrigerated to sit on the counter. This causes the food to go bad and is a health hazard to our parent.

Improper Medication Management

Your mom or dad may be overdosing on their medications or may not be taking their medications at all. Simply having someone around to give them their meds correctly will lead to a better ability to thrive.

Be honest with yourself about what you are seeing and ask your siblings if they see what you see? A simple discussion over the holidays can lead to breakthrough care your mom or dad requires and deserves. If your parent or loved one is dealing with even just one of the above issues, your parent could be experiencing failure to thrive. They don’t have to live this way.

 Wedgewood Estates is the perfect place to make a home for your loved one. Our main goal is to meet your parents’ needs through helping with activities of daily living. Taking medication properly, enjoying 3 meals a day, a great social affairs program, and help maintaining personal hygiene, will enable them to live more independently and their best possible life. Call Wedgewood today (419-756-7400) to find out more about the care we offer. You will rest easier because you did!