Aging and Life Enhancement
By Kathryn Kilpatrick, M.A.
The better awareness, the better your choices.
As you make better choices, you will see better results. ~Anonymous
While it is difficult to see someone struggle with more challenges as they age, it is important to observe what is happening or not, what is changing, or the impact it has on a person’s safety or quality of life.
Sometimes the only clue something is changing with an older adult’s ability to function in certain situations may be an increased withdrawal or disinterest in favorite activities, more mistakes, or just an increase in agitation. Is it an issue of hearing or vision changes, increased confusion or apathy, poor diet or even possible dehydration? Often it is on special occasions or holidays when loved ones notice that things are not what they used to be.
Do these changes mean something and when is it time to step in? Sometimes noting those subtle changes and making modifications and/or simplifications early on can maximize a person’s ability to function safely in their current setting and, hopefully, prevent more serious consequences.
While focusing on enhancing interactions and activities, especially if a friend or family member is more dependent on someone else for planning or transportation, there are sometimes concerns. Is it time to step up what you are doing, do you need to look into different living arrangements, or is it time to consider a more in-depth assessment?
One of the benefits during my career as a speech-pathologist in home health care was to interact with families when there appeared to be some less obvious concerns that they needed to be aware of. Many times, it included modifications that might make the older adult’s life safer or enhance their ability to remain engaged, particularly when there were memory, hearing, vision or physical changes.
When families are located out of town, it might be helpful to have feedback from a friend or neighbor who has the benefit of dropping in to visit or perhaps doing a quick chore when someone is more homebound. At some point, it might be a better idea to hire someone to come in as a companion for a few hours a week who might also do a few errands while also providing some needed one-on-one socialization in the process. Feedback can be very helpful when concerns are increasing but a person is trying to remain in their home.
One daughter who lived in California needed to bring in a caregiver for a few hours a week when she started getting unusually large heating bills for her mother’s home in Ohio one winter. Her mom was always cold and she could no longer easily see the numbers on the thermostat but the daughter had no idea this was a concern. After assessing the situation, I suggested a replacement with larger numbers so it was something her mother could see more easily, thus solving that problem, at least for the time being. Part of her treatment plan was to assess the best choice, given some recent concerns with her memory. Sometimes, situations such as this can heighten the need to more closely observe little or even more significant situations such as safety in the home, medication routine, diet and adequate hydration.
If a person senses something is changing with a friend or loved one, the best next step for their safety and quality of life and your peace of mind is to be proactive by seeking out resources appropriate to specific concerns.
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. ~Vincent van Gogh
