We like to think of people at their best Theres Mom carving a turkey Dad catching kids as they leap into a pool There are family vacations and tiny everyday moments that you treasure But now that theyre getting older those good moments can seem harder to find especially when you contrast them with the past But just because your parents are aging doesnt mean that your time together is coming to an end This is a new chapter in all your lives Bringing in a professional caregiver to help them out with certain tasks theyre having trouble with will give you the opportunity to focus more on the good Is it time for you to think about elderly care for a parent Here are six signs that your loved one is ready for a little extra help Their routine has changed significantly Are they letting the dog out in the backyard instead of walking them through the neighborhood Have they stopped grabbing lunch with a group of retired friends Are they spending more time in front of the television and less puttering in the garden A shift in daily routine can be normal It could be the result of a minor injury or a confrontation with a former friend Shifts that are seasonal or temporary should be monitored but change isnt necessarily a bad thing especially if one routine is replaced with another that is equally active or social It becomes a problem though when old routines give way to new ones that are isolated unstimulating or idle Theyre becoming anxious uncomfortable or uninterested in activities they used to love A single fall a half-forgotten technique an uncharacteristic mistake thats all it takes to turn a beloved hobby into an activity you no longer want to bother with Thats true for lots of people but its particularly common for seniors on the cusp of needing elderly care Its not an unexpected reaction Think about it Its the same behavior most people exhibit when they feel like theyve called attention to themselves in a negative way Regardless of age when we feel ashamed we want to avoid the activity in question as much as we can If its happening to your parents its a sign that they may need some extra help to power through it Their personality has changed When your mental and physical abilities change it can be disorienting embarrassing and depressing If your loved ones are experiencing difficulties in how they think or what theyre able to do in their daily lives their reaction to that change will probably show up in the way they behave toward you and others Both dementia and Alzheimers disease cause abrupt attitude changes One moment your parent will seem completely normal The next theyre upset frightened confused or angry Emotional outbursts and mood swings are a strong indicator that theres underlying cause you need professional help managing Their home isnt as clean or tidy as it was Keeping up with a clean house is difficult for most people on a good week Once aging sets in though the tasks that your parents used to knock out in a few hours dusting mopping vacuuming and laundry can become too strenuous to handle on their own It will be easy to tell when this becomes a reality for your loved ones There will be more dishes in the sink Furniture will look worn Dust will collect in the corners and floors will be noticeably dirty underfoot Your parents might push themselves too hard and risk injury to keep up with the chores so minding these details is essential to their health and safety They arent taking care of their hygiene or appearance Sometimes you might notice mom and dad arent showering or brushing their teeth As bodies age personal grooming habits become more difficult It might be impossible for your senior to step into a tub to scrub their hair or to manipulate a toothbrush Be on the lookout for big changes like skipping or skimping on makeup poorly kept nails oily hair and ragged clothes To put off asking for help seniors will often try to disguise their poor personal grooming habits One example of this is wearing cologne or perfume to cover up body odor Remember Admitting that you cant maintain your hygiene or dress properly is especially humiliating Accepting assistance makes you vulnerable Be gentle when you address these concerns and patient as you work through them Youre worried about them every day and its impacting your life Stress is a killer If youre constantly wondering if your parents are okay if theyre eating right if theyre taking their medication on time if theyre bathing if theyre getting out of the house if theyve made it to their doctors appointment all that worry can have detrimental effects on your own health and well-being It also cuts in on the time you spend with your spouse your kids and your friends If your parents are capable of living alone there are some excellent response systems that you can install for peace of mind Even without a landline your loved ones can have access to immediate emergency care should they ever need it Still a system isnt a replacement for a caregiver If any of these signs are true for you and your senior loved ones its time to start thinking about your elderly care options Help them go back to living the life they love Even part-time in-home assistance can ease your mind and make independent living easier and more enjoyable for your parents Susan Ashby joined the Superior Senior Care team in July of 2014 as Community Relations Manager With over 27 years of experience in geriatric health Susan brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to Superior Senior Care and plays an integral part in connecting consumers and communities with resources for independent living