20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home

Does your parent need help at home?

Maybe you've noticed that dad's unopened mail is piling up. Or mom, once meticulous about her appearance, is wearing wrinkled clothes and not doing her hair. Perhaps there are bruises on your aging parent's arms. When you bring up the subject, you hear, "Everything is fine. There's no need to worry."

Admitting they need help would mean they can't take care of themselves anymore, and no one wants to lose their independence. "Denial is the unrealistic hope that a problem is not really happening and will go away by itself. Admitting they need help and accepting assistance is not easy for people as they age. It represents a loss of independence. Denial plays a major role – and signs get ignored," says Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care.

The burden often falls on the family to recognize the signs that an aging parent might need help with daily living tasks.

"20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home" was provided courtesy of AgingCare.com and written by Mario Sollitto.

AgingCare.com is a leading website that connects people caring for elderly parents to other caregivers, personalized information, and local resources. Go to http://www.agingcare.com/.

20 Warning Signs

This doesn't necessarily mean that your loved one has to go to assisted living or a nursing home, but they may need some extra help in their home. If they're not willing to admit it, how do you know if your elderly parent needs home care? Here are some warning signs to look for:

Spoiled food that doesn't get thrown away
Missing important appointments
Unexplained bruising
Trouble getting up from a seated position
Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
Forgetfulness
Unpleasant body odor
Infrequent showering and bathing
Strong smell of urine in the house
Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care
Dirty house, extreme clutter and dirty laundry piling up
Stacks of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
Poor diet or weight loss
Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
Forgetting to take medications – or taking more than the prescribed dosage
Diagnosis of dementia or early onset Alzheimer's
Unexplained dents and scratches on a car

"20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home" was provided courtesy of AgingCare.com and written by Mario Sollitto.

AgingCare.com is a leading website that connects people caring for elderly parents to other caregivers, personalized information, and local resources. Go to http://www.agingcare.com/.

What Services are Available for Seniors Living at Home?

Once you know that there is a problem, how do you know if home care is right for your parent?

Home care is generally defined as non-medical support services delivered at the home of the senior. "The aim of home care is to allow seniors to remain at home longer rather than enter an assisted living community, nursing home or other type of senior care. Home care may be appropriate if a senior prefers to stay at home but needs minor assistance with activities of daily living," says Sam Almengor, National Accounts Director for Senior Helper, a national company that provides professional in-home assistance services.

"One of the most frightening prospects for seniors is leaving home. Home Instead Senior Care is helping seniors stay in their homes as long as possible," Hogan says.

What services can your parent get from home care? Home care agencies help with any activities and needs that a person needs throughout the day. Services include:

Watch movies and play games
Companionship and conversation
Grocery shopping
Meal planning and preparation
Diet monitoring
Hygiene assistance, including bathing and dressing
Light housekeeping
Walking assistance
Errands and transportation
Laundry, ironing and vacuuming
Change linens and bed making
Help with bills and mail
Supervise home maintenance and repairs
Organize closets and pantries
Medication reminders
Help with correspondence
Wash dishes
Appointment reminders
Coordinate home services
Pick-up prescriptions
General shopping
Review phone messages

How to Start a Conversation About Home Care

If you've noticed the warning signs, the time to start talking with senior parents sooner rather than later, when a crisis has occurred. But how do you bring up sensitive subjects related to aging, such as the need for home care? Home Instead recommends some conversation starters that might help overcome the awkwardness.

Approach your parents with a conversation. Discuss what you've observed and ask your parents what they think is going on. If your parents acknowledge the situation, ask what they think would be good solutions. If your parents don't recognize a problem, use concrete examples to support your case.

Remember you are talking to an adult, not a child. Patronizing speech or baby talk will put older adults on the defensive and convey a lack of respect for them. Put yourself in your parents' shoes and think of how you would want to be addressed in the situation.

"20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home" was provided courtesy of AgingCare.com and written by Mario Sollitto.

AgingCare.com is a leading website that connects people caring for elderly parents to other caregivers, personalized information, and local resources. Go to http://www.agingcare.com/.

How is Homecare Paid For?

Home care companies typically bill on an hourly basis for their services – and that rate varies widely depending on where you live. Paying for home care services is one of the most challenging issues for caregivers because most elders and families must pay for services out-of-pocket. Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for home care in most instances. Here are some other options to pay for care:

Health insurance
Some health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and some health and long-term care insurance plans provide coverage for home health care, so be sure to check benefits statements and policies

Long–term care insurance
Long-term care insurance helps cover the cost of care at home or in a nursing facility. It can cover much of the cost of home care – depending on the policy terms.

Veteran's administration
If your loved one served in the U.S. military, financial assistance might be available to provide a veteran with home care.

State and local programs
Call your local Department of Aging or Area Agency on Aging. In many states, there are local and state funded programs that offer limited care for seniors who meet certain criteria.

Viatical life settlements
If your loved one has a life insurance policy, there are companies that offer insurance owners the option to sell their policies in exchange for a lump sum payment that is greater than the cash surrender value.

Government funding
For low-income elders, Medicaid programs in most states support home care services as an alternative to nursing homes.

"20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home" was provided courtesy of AgingCare.com and written by Mario Sollitto.

AgingCare.com is a leading website that connects people caring for elderly parents to other caregivers, personalized information, and local resources. Go to http://www.agingcare.com/.