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Red Flags
Some people say you'll know when it's time for senior living. We find people stay in their homes way beyond the time they need care.
Why? Fear of the unknown, fear of broaching the subject with a parent, and anticipated retaliation or rage. Many people will simply stay in denial until an accident forces the issue. Then it's an emergency or potentially life-threatening.
Below, find Red Flags that may indicate the need for community living.
Car Accidents
Near Misses, Dents, & Scrapes
Drifting lanes? Fender benders? Lost while driving? Dents and scrapes are tangile clues that somethings not right. Driving is synonymous to independence. Most seniors flat out refuse to give up driving until a life threatening accident. Car accidents and near misses may increase as we age. Eye sight may make it unsafe to drive at night. Distractions from a ringing cell phone or changing the dial on the radio may lead to drifting into another lane or taking a wrong turn onto a one-way street. Let's talk.
Short-Term Memory
Memory & Critical Thinking
Frequent calls from a loved one checking in or asking when you are visiting may cause you pause. You may have just visited and they don't remember. Or you visited the day before, but they don't remember and argue you didn't. Some seniors may show signs of short-term memory loss, this is not part of aging. They cannot recall the events of the day or week, but clearly remember events decades ago. Mild Cognitive Impairment effects short-term memory. Compared to their peers, they struggle more with memory and critical thinking.
Falls
Stumbles, Trips, & Castastrophes
Falls may leave an independently living senior lying in pain for hours or days. Many simply cannot orient themselves after a fall to reach out for help. Why? There could be multiple reasons, but I believe it is from what is commonly referred to as freezing. Part of the chain of "fight, flight, or freeze". Freezing is the inability to effectively escape the current state. A fall may cause a broken bone, internal injuries, a brain bleed or worse. Sadly, this can be potentially fatal if help is not alerted.
Social Circles Shrink or Gone
Isolation
We can all agree, seniors physical and mental health declined drastically during the Covid19 shutdown. Fear of contracting Covid kept seniors shut-in and shut-down. Seniors took the worse of it and today, many are still living in near isolation. Socialization is partly habit and party human nature. Many seniors declined drastically and feel they are no longer able to get out and socialize or do the activities they once loved. They've been lulled into a less socially active existence and their mental health suffers from it. Isolation and living alone may lead to loneliness, anxiety, depression, declining health, or suicidal ideation.
Sundowning
Fearful, Paranoid, & Sad
Sometimes a person with Alzheimer's or dementia may act in certain ways that are hard to understand in the late afternoon or early evening. Sundowning behaviors included, but are not limited to, irritibility, restlessness, agitation, and confusion. Although there is no conclusive evidence for why Sundowning happens, here are some helpful tips. Loved one may be in pain, hungry, thirsty, bored, or overly tired.
Weight Loss
Microwave Diet &
Poor Nutrition
As many seniors age, they do not want to cook an entire meal for one. They often stock their freezers with frozen prepared meals and food. Although this is one way to avoid cooking, it may not be the most nutrional. Living alone, seniors may tend to forget to eat or over indulge on sweets instead of "real" food. Be aware of weight loss or gain. Easy way to get a sense is give your loved one a hug. You can get a sense of their weight.
Dehydration
Urinary Track Infections (UTIs)
UTIs in older people present themselves differently. As a senior, you may not feel the urge to frequently urinate or a burning pain, but rather increased confusion or lethargy. Often times, people with dementia may show signs of more confusion or disorientation. Check to see if they have a UTI. Some seniors may have chronic UTIs, check with your doctor how to get rid of a UTI once and for all. Encouraging liquids throughout the day is a great way to stave off UTIs.
COPD, High Blood Pressure,
Kidney Disease
Chronic Conditions
The top 10 chronic conditions in people over the age of 65+ are, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), High Cholesterol, Arthritis, Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, Depression, Heart Failure, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, as stated by the National Council on Aging. Senior living communities can assist seniors with insulin shots, taking medications, mobility assistance, social engagement, and specialized memory care programs. Getting the help you need, when you need it is critical to a good life and maintaining physical and mental health.
Dirty Clothes & Fingernails & Body Odor
Poor Hygiene
Observe whether there are stains on clothes and if the towels and sheets have been laundered. Whether their hair is clean and combed and their teeth are brushed. Are their nails clean and trimmed? Do they smell of body odor or urine? These are signs of needing help.
Elder Fraud, Hoaxes, &
Financial Abuse
Scammed
Most seniors can't imagine being scammed out of their hard earned savings. Yet, "there were 92,371 victims of elder fraud in 2021, according to the FBI report. That's a 12.3% decrease from the number of victims in 2020", reported Lyle Daly for the Motely Fool on November 28, 2022. Scammers call posing as relatives, charities, government agencies, and the like. With no supervision, seniors fall prey to the demands for credit card information, bank account information, and sign up for false services. Elder fraud is on the rise and no senior is ready for the sophistication of these criminals.
Lack of Financial Management
Stacks of Bills
Writing a check and accidentally adding a zero to the amount? One senior paid his electricity bill with a $71,000 check. The bill was actually $710, but he added a few zeros. Luckily, they returned the check. Three extra zeros, written in good faith to the wrong people, may cause financial ruin. Bills piling up, unopened mail, late fees, and overdrawn accounts all take time to reconcile. Finances are deeply personal, you may need to start slow and assure your loved one you are not out for their money. You may need to retain a fiduciary to manage your loved ones financial matters if they don't want to entrust a family member.