Helping Seniors Deal with Self-Neglect

There are many campaigns to educate the public about signs of elder abuse and neglect from other people. However, the often unrecognized reality is that seniors frequently neglect themselves. You will hear this being referred to as self-neglect and it can become extreme, and you may not know how to help your senior parent. First, if you live far away and you are only able to visit occasionally, it is essential that your elderly loved one has support from home care providers. Home care agencies provide multiple types of professionals who can help a senior age in place. Many seniors are choosing to age at home where they are the most comfortable. In theory, this sounds good, but self-neglect does happen and it is something that you and home care providers can look for.

Less obvious are the indicators of self-neglect, which some family caregivers may not even be able to recognize. When this occurs, individuals may feel helpless to effectively address the issue with their loved ones. The following are some of the most prevalent and obvious indications of self-neglect among the elderly. There are also suggestions for dealing with the situation.

Understanding the Signs of Self-Neglect

If you see your parents often enough the signs will be clear. They may have stopped taking care of their home and leaving it messy, they may refuse to take medications that they need, or they may not be eating like they used to.

It is crucial to remember that seniors who behave in this manner are not always in perfect control of their behavior, particularly if they are suffering cognitive decline and challenges. In fact, self-neglect is how some family members discover that anything may be amiss with the cognitive health of their loved ones.

How to Address Self-Neglect

It is difficult to inform elderly loved ones that they are not properly caring for themselves. Many elders have spent their whole lives caring for themselves. They may feel violated or assaulted if you imply that they are not doing so presently. So, what can you do?

Be Their Friend

Maybe you are their son or daughter but sometimes when you have an elderly loved one you also need to be their friend. Rather than expressing astonishment, disgust, annoyance, or wrath, it is crucial to be attentive to all conceivable reactions and to inquire about their well-being on a broader scale. It is beneficial to attempt to provide companionship that may lead to observing daily patterns and being able to “remind” the individual of crucial self-care tasks. Sometimes folks just need to know that someone is monitoring their well-being.

Communicate With Them

Even if you can’t visit physically, you should still try to talk to your mom or dad most days. Hop on a video chat with them and encourage them to be healthy even when you’re away. This is a time when you can glimpse at how they’re living too. You should never shame them or judge them for what they’re doing but instead, be kind and supportive.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Center Hill, FL, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Clermont today. 1-888-423-4046.