The holiday season is upon us again. There are many things to be done! Baking, shopping, decorating, planning, wrapping, etc. The hustle and bustle of the season will usually be followed by special times with our friends and family. This is a great time to check in on how our aging loved ones are doing.
The busyness of everyday life can distract us from noticing the changes in our friends, family, and loved ones. For some of us, it may have been a while since we’ve spent any time with our friends and family.
We want to encourage you to be present to your loved ones during these special gatherings. Not just giving them the attention that they require and deserve, but to be intentional about noticing how things may be changing for your aging loved ones.
Here are seven things to look for at holiday gatherings:
- Speech: Is it slower or slurred? Are they mumbling?
- Balance & Walking: Do they stumble? Are they catching themselves? Do they sit on the edge of their seat before getting up? Are they shuffling their feet?
- Mental Sharpness: Do they have trouble understanding conversation? Do they forget when they are in the middle of a story?
- General Hygiene: How is their appearance? Has it changed? Do they seem to have trouble taking care of themselves?
- Driving: Do you notice changes in their driving? Do they seem unsure of themselves? Are they breaking or accelerating inappropriately?
- Cooking: Do you notice any changes in their cooking? Did they forget ingredients? Did they over or undercook items?
- Finances: Have they missed paying bills? Do you see late notices laying around? Are they complaining of services being stopped?
Some of these changes can come from being overtired but don’t discount what you are noticing.
If you notice changes, here are a couple of things you can do:
- Make a note of the changes. Even if they are slight changes that may warrant some action.
- Check-in more often. Keep track to see if the condition has changed the next time you visit.
- Make an appointment with their doctor and go with them.
- Call an Edwards Group Elder Care Advisor at (217)726-9200.
Many people don’t think to call a law firm for elderly issues. However, Edwards Group Elder Care Team has many resources and tools to help our elderly population and their families.
We offer free phone consultations that will help you with tips and resources. Our focus is on the legal, financial, care, and spiritual aspects of aging. Legally, we help with all your basic needs: Wills, trusts, and Powers-of-Attorney. We also want to help protect as many assets as possible from rising healthcare costs. There is also a spiritual and emotional aspect to aging that can be incredibly stressful for families. We even have a chaplain available if there is an area you need to discuss or want prayer.
An Elder Care Plan will help you avoid a future crisis! If you think you could use the help and support of an Elder Care Advisor, give us a call at 217-726-9200. We’ll be happy to talk with you!