Caring for Aging Parents: Navigating Long-Distance

Caring for aging parents can be especially challenging, particularly when distance is a factor. Each year, an estimated 43 million Americans relocate from their home state for employment opportunities, personal preferences, or military assignments. This migration results in millions of individuals inevitably moving away from their elderly parents and loved ones.

As our family members age, concern for their well-being grows. They might sound fine over the phone, but it’s hard to gauge a person’s health and wellness from a distance. Our loved ones may refrain from expressing their worries, or struggle to acknowledge their changing needs. That’s why adult children caring for their parents must assess the situation thoroughly.

How to Assess Living Conditions, Personal Care, & Behavior

As your parents age, you should regularly assess their living situation and routine. This is something you could do during a trip home or use local assistance. Local assistance could be family caregiver, an in-home care company, or a senior concierge service. In this article, we’ll cover six signs your aging parents would benefit from additional help. 

1. Home Safety: Check if The Condition Of The Home Has Changed

Have clutter, dust, or debris built up in the home? Are there broken windows or screens, large leaks, heating & cooling failures, or gutters that need attention? If until recently the home was always clean,the extra mess could be a sign of cognitive or physical decline. 

Cleanliness changes could be related to eye issues. Often, aging adults with glaucoma, cataracts, or other vision deficiencies simply cannot see the dust and dirt buildup. Or, it might be difficult to push a vacuum or bend down into hard to reach areas. It can be exhausting to maintain a home, and embarrassing to admit we can’t keep up with the maintenance as we used to.

2. Outdoor Maintenance: Evaluate Your Aging Parents’ Yard Care

If the grass was always watered and mowed, and the flower boxes were blooming seasonally, is that still the case? 

As health declines, it can become tiring to maintain a property, and it may become frightening to use a push mower. Shoveling snow or even going outside during slippery conditions could be too risky for our elders. At this point, consider additional help or possibly, a senior living community.

3. Outdoor Maintenance: Evaluate Your Aging Parents’ Yard Care

Has mail piled up? Are doctor’s appointments missed? Is the food in the refrigerator fresh or expired and rotting?

Often our elders benefit from assistance with these daily tasks long before medical care is necessary. Care for the elderly  could be as simple as providing compassionate help with routine domestic responsibilities.

4. Forgetfulness: Recognizing Signs of Cognitive Decline

Is your loved one repeating themselves more frequently, asking the same question more than once during the same conversation, or forgetting important dates and details?

These are signs of cognitive decline, it’s not their fault or due to laziness. They will not remember by “trying harder.”

5. Hygiene: Observing Personal Care Habits

Is your loved one wearing clean clothes? Do you notice a body odor? Any changes in hair or nail maintenance?

Often people with cognitive issues will wear the same outfit several days in a row because they don’t remember having already worn it. They’ll skip bathing either due to fear of falling, or because they don’t remember or notice they need to.

6. Friends & Hobbies: Encourage Social Engagement and Activities

Is your loved one engaging with friends or participating in activities they enjoy outside the home? 

Remaining engaged in our communities is vital for brain health and cognition. It’s common for aging adults to avoid going out due to physical ailments or limitations. It can be exhausting or frightening for them to leave, so they stay home. This reinforces their fears, leads to depression, and furthers cognitive decline.

What to Do About Parents Who Need Support 

The biggest sign that an aging loved one may need help is any major change from their former routine. Check out our  “Caring for Aging Parents Checklist” for additional signs. Recognizing these indicators early on empowers family caregivers to take proactive steps in ensuring their aging loved ones receive the support they need. 

You might discover that arranging for a cleaning service, shoveling or mowing assistance, scheduling home health visits, or investing in a medication box with an alarm is sufficient to address your loved one’s needs. 

However, you might also explore options such as senior care living communities, assisted living facilities, or enlisting the expertise of professional geriatric care managers. Additionally, you might find it necessary to take a more hands-on approach in managing your loved one’s bills and finances. While long-term care planning can seem overwhelming, rest assured that there are ample resources available to support you through this process.

Empowering Caregivers with Resources and Support

Paths Elder Law understands the complexities of navigating elder care decisions. By addressing the challenges of long-distance caregiving and embracing proactive measures, Paths Elder Law aims to uphold the dignity and well-being of aging parents and loved ones, ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve. Sign up for their monthly newsletter to stay informed and receive expert insights on navigating the elder care journey effectively.