This is the time of year when families who haven't seen each other in a while have a chance to reunite. It's also an opportunity for adult children to see firsthand how their elderly family members and friends are faring.
During the holiday season, Maple Woods in Hamden, a Benchmark Senior Living Community, recommends that family members take this time to be conscience of elderly family members' environment and truly evaluate how they are living; look for the things that wouldn't necessarily be noticed over the telephone pertaining to their ability to manage indepedently at home.
- Are they less mobile or having difficulties moving around, making them a bigger risk for potential falls?
- Have you noticed any changes in terms of their eating habits? Do they look underweight and malnourished? Are any foods in the refrigerator moldy and expired? Are they cooking their food or only eating out of cans?
- Can you see a noticeable difference in terms of their personal hygiene? Has their hair been washed, and, for the men, are they clean-shaven?
- Are you f inding that their clothes are piled high and unwashed? Are the halls and rooms filled with clutter?
- Are there any signs of memory loss?
- Are there any signs that they are confused in terms of taking their prescribed medications?
“The holidays are a good opportunity to assess how your elderly loved ones are really doing,” states Anne Wetmore, RN, BSN, Resident Care Director at Maple Woods in Hamden. “The goal is to examine their home environments for these important indicators. Understanding the ‘bigger picture’ in terms of where they stand allows families to begin to learn about the necessary resources which can assist your parents and help prevent any potential health disasters.”
If you can identify any significant changes in elderly family members, Maple Woods at Hamden’s can meet with you to provide a greater understanding in terms of the necessary planning and services that can keep your elderly loved ones happy and safe in the new year. For more information, contact Jeff Berman at (203) 248-1864.
