Are You Concerned about your Aging Parents?

Parents do get older, you can’t stop that, but you want to make sure that they are taking care of themselves and staying in good health.

Here are five issues to help you gauge whether your aging parents need assistance:

1. If your aging parents are losing weight without trying to, may be that is a sign that something is wrong. Weight loss could indicate a significant health problem in your aging parents.
2. Think in terms of safety; do you feel that your aging parents are safe in their home? Do they have difficulty navigating around the house and did they mention any recent falls or inquiries?
3. Pay attention to your parents’ appearance. Failure to keep up with daily routines, such as bathing and basic grooming, could indicate health problems. Make sure that they are taking care of themselves.
4. It is important to note your parents’ mood. Talk to your parents about their activities. Are they still involved and enjoying their social engagements? Are they in good spirits?
5. Make sure your parents are not having difficulty getting around, bathing, shopping, cooking etc. Health conditions such as joint problems and muscle weakness may make it difficult for your parents to get around. Pay attention to how your parents are walking, going up the stairs and getting up and down after sitting.

If you have concerns about your aging parents, talk to them. Together, you and your parents can come up with solutions to problems around the home. Take a more active role in the health care will help you be more aware of their health and safety issues.

As your parents age, their health care needs will change, and a geriatric physician may be able to offer more specific care dsigned around their needs. Geriatricians are primary care physicians who are board certified in either family practice or internal medicine and also have acquired the additional training necessary to obtain the certificate of added qualification in geriatric medicine. They focus on promoting health and preventing and treating disease and disability in later life.