Everyone knows that growing older brings newproblems, under-estimating just how serious those problems can be is easy. When you have an elderly loved one in your life, you may be unaware of some of the troubles they face – particularly when many older people are reluctant to discuss their problems.
Whether you are directly providing care for an older person in your life, or simply want to help your loved ones live happier lives in retirement, here are a few issues our home care service team in Philadelphia think you should look out for.
5 Common Problems Your Elderly Loved Ones May Be Facing
1. Cognitive decline/dementia
As people get older, they often tend to slowly lose the ability to think, remember, and reason. Even those without an explicit mental disease, such as Alzheimer’s, are likely to experience cognitive decline over time. The chances of this happening also go up if they have chronic health conditions such as diabetes or drug additions – including alcohol and tobacco.
When you remain aware of your older loved one’s behaviors, you may be able to spot dementia early on and take action to ensure his/her well-being.
2. Mental disorders
Mental disorders, especially depression, are unfortunately common among older people. Sometimes these disorders are side effects of ongoing health issues, and other times they are simply a result of stress or dissatisfaction. Try to maintain awareness of how happy your older loved one is and look for ways to increase the sense of well-being and companionship.
3. Malnutrition
Far too many older people cease to eat properly. While a variety of reasons exist for this problem, a lack of proper eating often involves either an inability to afford quality food, or physical impairment that prevents them from preparing proper meals. Be aware of your elderly loved one’s physical appearance, and if they suddenly start losing weight, try to investigate their diet.
4. Sensory loss
According to numbers from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six seniors is visually impaired, and one in four has suffered hearing loss. Like mental decline, the loss of these senses may happen so gradually that they are unaware of the process occurring. Fortunately, solutions are available to help compensate for these losses.
5. Fraud
Seniors are prime targets for scammers of all types, particularly ones trying to trick them into giving up money or personally-identifying information. When possible, keep an eye on their financial reports and follow up on any entries that seem questionable.
Neighborly Home Care Offers Top-Quality 24-Hour Home Care Services in Philadelphia
We are one of the caring and compassionate home care agencies in Philadelphia, PA, with an emphasis on maintaining senior citizens’ quality of life. If you have a loved one who is beginning to struggle with day-to-day life, contact us for help.