As a family caregiver, you may have to look for subtle signs that something just isn’t right for your aging adult.
Elderly Care in Eagle River AK: Caregiver Red Flag Tips
Frequent Hospitalizations or Urgent Care Visits
If your aging adult is finding herself in the hospital, emergency room, or even urgent care often, there may be some bigger problems going on. Chronic health conditions require consistent care, of course, but she may need more help to keep herself healthy than she currently has. You may need to make changes as her caregiver to the level of help that she has from here on out.
Serious Decline in Health
When you visit your aging adult, pay attention to how she’s doing. If she suddenly is doing much worse than she has been during your most recent visit, there may be a problem. Some illnesses can come on or worsen suddenly, but many of them worsen gradually. If your elderly family member has been downplaying her health, you may not have been able to see signs until now. Talk with her doctor about what could be causing the issue so that you can get to work formulating a plan.
Sudden Weight Loss or Lack of Appetite
It’s not uncommon for anyone, including your aging adult, to not be hungry now and again. But if she’s suddenly having a serious lack of appetite regularly, there may be bigger problems going on. If your aging family member isn’t eating well or often, she may be losing a great deal of weight quite suddenly.
Withdrawal from Normal Activities
Giving up on activities that your aging adult has normally enjoyed can be another sign that something is wrong. If she’s also avoiding interacting with people that she normally spends time with, she may be experiencing depression or physical ailments that are restricting her life. If you’re noticing that your elderly family member isn’t as active as she once was, be sure to ask her what is causing her to withdraw from those activities.
Talk to your aging adult’s doctor about specific red flags that could relate to her individual health conditions. You may not catch every sign every time, but you’ll learn to spot them faster and easier.
