Family members may spot changes in how a senior loved one starts behaving. Some are natural for age progression, while others could mean that they might need medical care or assistance. Aging life care professional Lisa Mayfield, CEO and founder of Aging Wisdom, joins Suzanne to list some of the top signs of uncharacteristic behaviors to keep in kind when visiting senior loved ones.
1) Changes in mail management: You’ll see mail start piling up on the table. “When your memory is changing, you can’t look through mail and [tell junk mail from] the electric bill. So the mail just piles up. They may not be paying their bills, they may be behind in their credit card or their electricity.”
2) Changes in appearance. “Maybe your mom was just meticulously dressed all the time. Always had her lipstick on. Her hair was perfect. And you’re just starting to notice that she’s wearing that same shirt each time you visit, it’s starting to have stains on it. Maybe her hair just isn’t quite as nice as it used to be.”
3) Repeating stories. Mom becomes confused about appointments, and starts repeating questions she asked two minutes ago.
4) Forgetting to take medication. “You’re noticing that they aren’t taking their medications, their pill bottles haven’t changed. You’re just noticing confusion with medications.”
5) Changes in initiative. “There’s lack of initiative when people’s memory is changing. People just end up not doing much. You’ll find your dad sitting on his recliner hour after hour and he seems perfectly content, where he used to be out playing with the car, mowing the grass, or playing golf.”
For more signs that your parent may need help, get the resource guide at https://agingwisdom.com/
Aging Life Care Association
Aging Wisdom website
More podcasts with Lisa Mayfield
Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.
