Elderly Parents Living Alone: 53 Warning Signs

Changes in Your Mom or Dad’s Appearance

Changes in our parent’s appearance are typically one of the first warning signs we notice.

Their basic hygiene may suffer as they start to have difficulty climbing in and out of their bathtub or become afraid they’ll fall.

Simple tasks like washing laundry may be too challenging. Bending over to pick up dirty clothes and lugging around a heavy laundry basket may not be worth the effort it takes.

Shaky hands can make simple tasks like adding detergent to the washer a messy hassle involving spills they can’t clean up easily.

Washing clothes and putting them away can be too much of a chore when reaching things up high or down low is a challenge. If you think your Mom or Dad could be experiencing any of these issues, check out the list below for some signs to look for.

Trouble in the Kitchen

Cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, and pulling items out of cabinets or drawers are chores we can do without much thought when we are young.

As we age, these types of kitchen tasks start to become increasingly harder to do. Cooking creates a constant mess that has to be cleaned up.

Grocery shopping means they have to get dressed, make a list, get in the car, drive to the store, push the cart, reach items high up and down low, pay the cashier, unload the bags into the car, drive home, and then unload and put everything away.

Trembling hands, weak or painful muscles and/or joints, and a foggy memory would make this almost impossible to accomplish without assistance.

If you think your mom, dad, or loved one could be struggling with any of these problems, read through the list below so you know what to look for.

Indications of Financial Trouble

You may not realize how much of an impact aging can have on managing finances.

Memory problems or difficulty concentrating can cause your parents to miss due dates and forget payments altogether. They might even overpay because they don't remember making a payment.

Depression, anxiety, or simply believing the stories of con articles might cause them to spend money unwisely on charities or other purchases that you wouldn’t normally spend it on.

They could also suffer from mobility problems that make checking the mail harder to do, so they don’t see the bills on time.

Poor money management can lead to depleted finances and even dangerous situations if their power or water is disconnected. It’s important to check in and make sure your parents aren’t struggling.

Neglected Chores

Chores inside and outside of the house get harder to do as your parents get older. Dusting furniture, sweeping and mopping floors, and even basic tidying up can be draining and painful.

The work involved with gassing up a mower and cutting the lawn can be impossible. Also, working outside in the heat could also pose a health risk or cause an injury.

Even when your parents are still managing day-to-day chores, you may find that some of the bigger jobs like cleaning gutters and trimming bushes are getting neglected.

Mobility Issues

Diminished mobility can lead to a lot of problems and a poorer quality of life. Your loved one might suddenly find it hard to maintain their balance and physical activities could cause them pain or make them exhausted.

If your loved one is having trouble getting around there are some simple things you can look out for that could clue you in.

Difficulty Concentrating and Memory Loss

Memory loss and difficulty concentrating are difficult to handle and not something your loved one will want to admit to. Especially if it is your Mom or Dad.

Admitting that their mind is not as intact as it once was is never easy. Verbalizing this out loud can make them feel inferior and ashamed.

Before you try to start that conversation, make sure to look for evidence they are struggling with this.