Families Urged to Keep Alert for Signs Seniors Need Help

Watching your once active parents or other relative decline into someone who needs constant care is heartbreaking and overwhelming. But with 36 million seniors living in the U.S. and the elderly population projected to double, caring for a senior loved one is a reality most people will face.  That’s why Senior Helpers, a leading provider of in home senior care, advises family members to learn the signs your senior relative needs assistance.

It’s much better to arrange for help for an elderly family member while they can still be part of the process rather than during a crisis because it gives everyone time to make thoughtful decisions,” says Peter Ross, CEO and founder of Senior Helpers.  “Seniors often believe getting help means being moved out of their house and that’s where the resistance to any kind of help comes in.  But many times in home care is a better option.”

Senior Helpers’ elderly care experts remind people to respect a senior family member’s pride and dignity when discussing the need for assistance.  Approach the topic with respect and understanding and express concern for the family member’s safety.  The warning signs could be an indication of many issues so if there is a concern it is important to contact a doctor.

10 Warning Signs a Senior Relative Need Assistance

• The house is cold, the telephone is cut off.
• Losing track in a conversation, forgetting the names of children, grandchildren, the day of the week, etc.
• The death of a spouse.
• The refrigerator and cupboards are half empty even though you know the relative can still get out.
• Personal hygiene is poor.
• Constantly making excuses when asked to go somewhere or do something, or wanting to be alone.
• Sudden weight loss.
• Never cleaning or delaying home repairs.
• Failure to take prescribed medications.
• Behavior changes.

“The best way to keep track of a senior family members situation is to keep in touch with them and this is one time where being nosy is justified,” says Ross. “Visit or call often and use one of the warning signs as a way to approach the topic if needed.”

“You can take away the car keys, disable a car or have police confiscate a person’s driver’s license but that can create hard feelings,” says Peter Ross, founder and CEO of Senior Helpers, the fastest growing provider of in-home care for seniors. “We encourage families to hire a caregiver to drive their loved ones around and help with daily tasks. The caregiver is not only the driver but can be an extra set of eyes and ears at doctors’ appointments or grocery shopping. Plus, caregivers are great companions and often turn into good friends so the senior doesn’t feel lonely and can still stay active and social.”

Consider the problem with the recent wave of car crashes in the past few months involving elderly drivers:

• Plymouth, MA. (June) A 73-year-old woman faces criminal charges after ramming her minivan into a crowd. She was involved in three previous accidents since turning 70.
• Danvers, MA. (June) A 93-year-old man accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake and drove his car into a Wal-Mart, injuring a woman and her 1 year old daughter.
• Winter Park, FL. (May) A 78-year-old man is accused of leaving the scene after hitting and killing a pedestrian.
• Tierra Santa, CA. (April) An 86-year-old woman drives through the front glass window of an office and hits a man who later dies.

“Our reflexes naturally slow with age, and it’s difficult to measure how slow is too slow when driving,” adds Ross. “Some states are considering requiring driving tests for seniors, but driving tests can miss the onset of diseases like Alzheimer’s  that affect judgment, understanding and memory which cause many of the accidents. So often the family has to recognize it’s time to stop the senior from driving.”

WARNING SIGNS AN OLDER PERSON’S DRIVING ABILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED

• Drives too fast or too slow, brakes often or abruptly changes speed.
• Has trouble reading signs, pavement markings, or seeing after dark.
• Misjudges distances, frequently gets lost or misses turns.
• Has difficulty operating vehicle controls or confuses gas and brake pedals.
• Has difficulty making quick moves, is easily startled or fails to notice other vehicles.
• Acts agitated, confused, lethargic or anxious
• Struggles with left turns

So what is the solution? Hire a caregiver who can be a driver and companion. It worked for Anne Worster of Denver, Colorado who hired a caregiver to drive her 96-year-old mom to doctors’ appointments because it was difficult to leave work. “It was great because the caregiver took notes and called me right after the appointment,” says Anna. “I got a full report and it made me feel at ease that I wasn’t sending mom in there alone. Plus, it’s so nice to trust someone to drive mom so I don’t worry about her safety or the safety of anyone else.”

“Children must reassure their elderly parents they can still see friends and be involved in activities even if they can’t drive,” says Ross. “Hiring a caregiver who can be a driver eases some of the conflict in the decision to take away the keys because it preserves the senior’s independence and provides a companion at the same time.”