Essential Things to Check When You Visit an Elderly Relative. If you have older relatives, you know that it’s easy to worry about them. Watching someone get older is difficult, especially when you can see them start to slow down or experience various health problems. But the best thing you can do when you’re worrying is to turn that worry into something productive. When you visit your parents, grandparents, or other older relatives, you can take the opportunity to check up on them and possibly identify any issues that they might be having. There are a few things you could check up on if you want to understand their current position.
Are They Safe?
Safety is key to consider when you want to know if your elderly relatives are doing well. There could be various safety concerns, whether they live in their own home or have moved elsewhere. Some safety issues to consider might include whether they can move around safely and if they might be at risk of falling. If anything did happen, how would they be able to get help? You can consider solutions such as personal alarms if you have a relative who you think could be at risk of falling or experiencing other accidents.
Are They Keeping Up with Self-Care?
Checking up on whether someone is taking good care of their health and hygiene can sometimes be tricky. However, if they’re not managing to do it on their own, there can be some signs. You might notice that someone who is usually well put-together suddenly has messy hair, has buttoned up their shirt wrong or left it untucked, has bad breath or body odor, or hasn’t cut their nails. If they are struggling with personal hygiene, they might need some extra support to help them with a range of daily tasks. It can be a sensitive topic, so approaching it carefully is important.
Are They Being Cared For?
Many elderly people already receive some kind of care or support. This could include home care or residential care. Neglect and abuse from caregivers can be a serious concern, so checking that they are receiving the care they deserve is essential. Some cases of inadequate care could even lead to the need for a wrongful death lawyer to fight your case if you believe a loved one died due to neglect. Speaking to your relatives about the care they receive is important. It’s also a good idea to look for other signs that they are receiving the care they should be getting.
Are They Content?
Loneliness and depression are big problems for older people. It’s not always easy to spot the signs, but many older people struggle with isolation or with low moods. Speaking to them about how they really are and encouraging them to share their feelings is a must if you want to check that they’re doing ok. There are various ways to encourage them to get support, from seeing a doctor to connecting with social activities.
Check these essential things when visiting an elderly relative to make sure they are healthy and happy.
