A New Holiday List to Check: Do My Parents Need Care?
Heading home for the holidays? Let’s all be Care Aware this holiday season.
The holidays present a good (and maybe rare) opportunity for you see in person how your aging parents, grand parents, and older loved ones are doing. It’s your chance to evaluate if a family member needs additional help to continue living comfortably and safely at home.
If you know what to look for, you can quickly and discreetly spot red flags that often signal a current or looming physical or cognitive problem. Use your own strategies to evaluate, but we’ve put together a simple “Self-Sufficiency Checklist” to help you be Care Aware as you enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
Safety Checklist for Aging Loved Ones
Strength & Balance
Is your parent or older loved one frequently grasping for furniture, rails, or walls as they move through the house? Do they walk with a shuffle or seem a bit wobbly? Do throw rugs or steps cause a hesitation or catch a shoe? Do they struggle to open jars, car doors, or avoid bending down to pick up a dropped item?
Personal Hygiene
Has bathing and laundering clothes become a struggle? (A simple sniff test usually does the trick.) Is their hair clean and combed? Do you see a fresh tooth brush in the bathroom? Can you get a look at their bare feet? (Suggest a foot massage or pedicure!) The condition of a person’s feet reveals a lot about their ability to maintain good hygiene and personal care.
Meal Preparation
Is your loved one still comfortable preparing and cooking their own meals? How do they handle their kitchen routine and grocery shopping, especially lifting and carrying bags? Is the refrigerator well-stocked with non-expired food essentials (look for mold or spoiled produce)? Do they struggle to lift pots, pans, or the kettle? Are they doing their dishes regularly? Are dishes in the cupboards and silverware in the drawers actually clean?
Social Engagement
Is your parent or grandparent active in the conversation? Do they make timely and logical comments? Or do they watch passively like a spectator or listen for long periods without engaging? Do they repeat themselves or ask the same questions? Are they forgetful about social plans, missing dates with friends, going to the wrong location — or not making any effort to be social?
Driving Ability
Just because they have a valid driver’s license doesn’t mean they should still be driving. (Do a quick search for “pedal confusion” to see some frightening stats!) To check a loved one’s abilities behind the wheel, suggest a casual drive — with you riding shotgun — and think like a driver’s ed. instructor. Do they wear their seatbelt without being reminded? Use turn signals and check blind spots before changing lanes? Have trouble accelerating to full the speed limit? Do they miss exits or entrances to familiar locations or not see stop signs in time to safely stop? Are other drivers honking at them — more than usual?
If you have any concerns about your loved one’s driving ability, definitely talk about it now — while everyone can still laugh about the options and possible consequences. The earlier the conversation happens, the more everyone can feel like they are participating in the process!
If you notice an older loved one is struggling or showing an obvious decline in any of these five key areas, it’s time to sit down and have an honest, gentle, loving conversation about how to continue living independently at home — safely. Be sure to make it clear that getting a little help at home is not about limiting their freedom or control — it’s about limiting health and safety risks while encouraging their freedom and independence. It’s also about helping them stay happy in the home they love — which may be the best gift you could possibly give.
Happy holidays from your friends at Honor!
If your family is looking for an amazing care professional, call us any time at (877) 777–5161. We’re here to help.
