As you age, problems can arise both physically and mentally. And this should encourage relatives to support seniors. These, however, often do not ask for it or even refuse it. But when is it especially worth being interested in whether an elderly person needs help? Here are some tips.

1. Diagnosed serious diseases

If a senior is diagnosed with a serious illness, he or she may have a problem coping with it - especially in terms of monitoring medical appointments, taking medications, switching to a proper diet or changing daily habits. Here are some of the conditions that are particularly demanding in the elderly:

  • cancer
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • lung diseases
  • broken bones
  • surgical procedures (already performed or waiting for the senior)
  • diabetes
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Parkinson's disease
  • multiple sclerosis
  • back injuries
  • mental illness
  • arthritis
  • stroke
  • Zawał
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • eye diseases (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration)

2. Hygiene problems

This sphere also requires a proper physical and mental condition. What should worry you?

  • Daily care: unwashed or messily styled hair, dirty hands and nails, uncut nails.
  • Clothes: unwashed, carelessly selected (e.g. winter in summer or vice versa), damaged (with holes, missing buttons, broken zipper).
  • Glasses: damaged or dirty.
  • Smell: the person smells bad, which is most likely a sign of a hygiene problem.

3. He alth neglect

Specific he alth "management" is a difficult topic for any person - especially the elderly. So it is good to be interested in the situation of a given senior. What things must not be ignored?

  • Missed medical appointments: this can happen for a variety of reasons and, unfortunately, it is seldom possible to "catch up" on this trail. An older person could, for example, lack adequate transport to the site. Another reason is problems with memory and control over the daily schedule.
  • Problems with taking medications: seniors often have totake a lot of medications. So let's make sure they know what they're taking them for, and above all, how to dose them. It is also a good idea to make sure that the elderly person does not run out of any medications. Therefore, it does not hurt to help in making an appointment or taking a senior there by car.
  • Avoidance of medical visits: this applies to various speci alties - from an internist to a dentist to specialist treatment. Here again the conversation will prove to be helpful. So it is best to ask which doctors and how often a given person visits, and when was the last time he or she visited them. Evasive responses or avoiding the topic constitute serious alarm signals.
  • Minor cuts and other ailments: poorly cleaned wounds or not bandaged, chronic cough, limping.

4. Bad eating

As the years go by, the enthusiasm for culinary delights may run out. And this translates into an unhe althy diet, worse eating habits, and reaching for processed products without greater nutritional value. Another thing is that the problem may be elsewhere - for example, it is more difficult to do the shopping yourself. What should worry us?

  • Fridge and kitchen pantry: empty shelves, out-of-date food items, items with low nutritional value.
  • Weight loss or gain: Eating problems often translate into marked fluctuations in weight. We should never ignore it, the more so as large changes in weight are often a symptom of serious diseases and certainly do not contribute to the well-being of the body.
  • Weakness: the lack of the necessary nutrients translates into a worse physical and mental condition. It is often accompanied by fainting, problems with concentration, a simple lack of strength for various daily activities.
  • Lack of Appetite: Many older people have a lower appetite, which does not mean that the body needs less food. It is worth paying attention to how much an elderly person eats or if he or she often refuses a meal.

5. Resignation from typical activities

Here it will be useful to know the habits of the elderly and what gives them pleasure. So if, for example, a sociable senior avoids meetings with relatives, it may be an alarm signal that he needs help in some area. Other possible hints that help would be useful may include giving up driving or traveling at all, going to church, shopping, to friends and family. Avoiding typical activities that benefit time and are pleasurable can also be a symptom of depression, which is affecting more and more people regardless ofage.

6. Injuries and bruises

Bumps, bruises, bruises, swelling, and even damaged bones and joints - you should always ask how it happened. Sometimes, unfortunately, this may even indicate violence used by carers of the elderly. And if the senior is lonely, this is a clear signal for us to support him in everyday life!

7. Neglected garden, lawn

Mowing the lawn, pruning plants or regular garden care require a good physical condition. This, unfortunately, is often lacking in elderly people. Therefore, it is good to pay attention to the following things that should prompt you to provide support:

  • Lawn: it can be overgrown, full of weeds or mostly dead.
  • Garden: similar to the one above - disorderly, overgrown with weeds. It is also worth checking if there are no overgrown plants that block windows or doors, or dead plants.
  • Trees: also overgrown, not pruned. Branches block doors, windows, lean on electrical wires dangerously. We will also see more in the fall - disordered fallen leaves, branches, pieces of dead trees should also make people interested in an older person.
  • Pests: if they have spread in the garden or around the house, it is also an important signal that it is worth helping. Sometimes it is even necessary, because it poses a danger - especially when wasps or hornets nest on the property.

8. House in need of repairs or a small renovation

For many seniors, it is quite a challenge to carry out the necessary repairs and maintenance on their own. This applies to activities both in and around the home. So let's pay attention to things like:

  • Gutters: clogged with leaves or debris, not working properly.
  • Fence: broken boards, missing posts, malfunctioning gate or wicket.
  • Sidewalks: dangerous cracks, missing pieces, excess grass.
  • Doors and windows: more or less damage, missing elements.
  • Light: burned out or missing bulbs, damaged lamp holders.
  • Cabinets and drawers: problems with handles and hinges, drawers that slide easily.
  • Water installations: dripping tap, clogged toilet, problem with the flush.
  • Paints and finishing materials: damage to walls, ceilings, floors; peeling paint, peeling wallpaper; visible traces of flooding.

9. Clutter in the house

Cleaning is an effort - we all know it. In the fall of life, there may be real problems with thatdeal with cleaning work on a regular basis. Where are the alarm signals?

  • Furniture: covered with dust, animal hair, items that should be found elsewhere.
  • Floors: signs that they haven't been washed for a long time; uncovered carpets; stains or other impurities on the floors.
  • Storage: cabinets, drawers, containers or organizers for things are full, not closed, they contain things that should be stored in other places.
  • Kitchen: sink full of unwashed dishes, dirty countertops, overcrowded with things; refrigerator unwashed for a long time, with products that are spoiled or whose use-by date has already passed.
  • Bathroom: dirty countertops, sink, bathtub, shower, toilet; expired drugs or cosmetics; things left in disarray.
  • Garbage: containers overfilled, no proper segregation.
  • Clothes: piles of unwashed clothes or washed but disordered.
  • The smell in the house: unpleasant, stuffy, indicating that the cleaning work is poorly carried out or not done at all.

10. Financial problems or failure to control the budget, bills

Fatigue or a worse mental condition make it difficult to plan the budget properly, pay bills or maintain a good financial condition, save money. So let's take a look at things like:

  • Paused services: disconnected phone (and even electricity!), No garbage collection, problem with water, sewerage.
  • Mail: letters with payment requests or notifications about unpaid bills.
  • Debts: this can be evidenced by frequent phone calls, SMSes, e-mails from loan companies or from the bank. Then it is worth talking frankly with the older person about whether there are active loans or other late liabilities.
  • General financial situation: the alarm signal here may be avoidance of the topic by the senior. Added to this are unclear translations or apparently ignoring the problem.

Category:

Geriatrics