This holiday season ViaQuest is encouraging a ‘holiday reality check’. Many of us return home for the holidays, the perfect time to get a real picture of how your aging family members are doing. Sometimes the return home visit can lead to a shocking discovery: your parents are not fairing as well as they led you to believe.
“Often adult children return home to find their parents are not doing quite as well as they’ve been led to believe. They discover new or increased frailties, less mobility, a general decline in their well being. They’ve been reassured for months by their parents who don’t want to burden them, or who may not want to confront their own diminishing capabilities, or who may not be fully aware themselves that they’re losing ground,” said Kathy Richard, Chief Clinical Officer, ViaQuest.
The ‘reality jolt’ is more likely to hit adult children who live far enough away that they can’t regularly look in on aging family members. They’ve been reassured that all is fine, but find out differently when they do visit.
For those returning home for the holidays, it’s the perfect time to do a reality check on how your aging family members really are doing. Look for these telltale warning signs:
- Are there signs of cognitive impairment? Forgetfulness and confusion are definite red flags that should never be overlooked.
- Take a look around the home and assess its general appearance. Are there signs of damage or neglect? If their home is not as organized or as clean as they once kept it, it could mean they are no longer able to properly do general household tasks.
- Is there outdated or spoiled food in the refrigerator?
- Are you noticing a marked weakness, loss of stamina or strength?
- Are there noticeable bruises? This could be a sign your loved one is having mobility or balance issues.
“Determining if help is needed then understanding what local services are available in the home is a first step, said Kathy. “Many don’t realize that there is help out there that can help keep mom or dad in their home. It could be a small change like engaging a home helper to handle laundry and shopping and help with bathing or a chore service to help with home repairs and home safety. If their decline is related to a serious illness then ViaQuest may be an option.”
At ViaQuest, we often talk about our services being an “extra layer of support“ for family caregivers. We know when you are caring for a loved one with a serious illness, you can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed.
Imagine having a support system there for you and your loved one. With ViaQuest there’s a specially-trained team of doctors, dedicated nurses, nurses’ aides and other dedicated professionals that come to your home and support your family in caring for your loved one.
Our support includes nurses who visit the patient as often as needed and make arrangements for medications and medical equipment. Nurses’ aides help your loved one with bathing, personal care, light meals, grooming, and comfort. Our team works together with your other doctors to provide the extra care and support that enables you to feel less overwhelmed when caring for your loved one.
Our care is about sustaining and maintaining your loved one’s quality of life in their home – keeping them safe and comfortable. ViaQuest Hospice can help determine if it is appropriate for your loved one, you can learn more by calling: 855.298.1722.
No matter what you determine is the best fit for your aging parent, the holiday reality check can lead to some pragmatic steps that can help older people maintain their independence, at least for a while.
