10 Warning Signs That Your Parents May Need Your Attention

10 Signs That Warn You of Your Parent’s Deteriorating Health

Here are a few signs that warn you of your parent’s deteriorating health and bring health insurance plans into the picture:

1. Low Energy

   As your parents age, their energy levels will start dropping. They would feel more tired and may avoid going out of the house for social gatherings. If you sense your parents lack energy or are lazier than in the recent past, you must get their medical check-up done and take them to a doctor.

2. Wrong Eating Practices 

   With advancing age, the first symptom that your parents may exhibit is the loss of appetite or consuming stale food due to laziness. This happens because their body becomes weak and they find it difficult to cook for themselves. Taking a light and healthy diet is essential at their age. If you can afford it, you should get a cook, who can cook healthy food for them. 

3. Neglecting Hygiene

   Old people are not very active and, thus, may refrain from taking regular baths out of body weakness. They might not even change their clothes regularly and may neglect their nails, hair and teeth. If you find your parents doing these things, it is time for you to take care of it for them and ensure that they maintain their daily hygiene.

4. Ignoring Home Cleanliness

   Another warning sign of your parent’s deteriorating health is the poor condition of their house. They might fail at keeping their home and surroundings clean and fresh. You may find things lying around and dust collecting on shelves. To help them stay hygienic, you can keep a helper to clean their house on a daily basis.

5. Habit of Forgetting 

   Forgetfulness is one of the most common symptoms that come with age. It can be anything from forgetting a doctor’s appointment to names of people, bills or medicines. In severe cases, they may even forget things from their daily routine tasks. You may need to keep a tab on them and remind them of important things. You should also make sure they have a senior citizen health insurance policy to cover any resulting medical expenses.

6. Less Movement

   Lack of movement is another sign of your parent’s age catching up. Check if they are losing mobility or facing difficulty getting out of bed. You can also check if they are able to perform other routing activities involving movement. If that is the case, you may have to keep a help that assists your parents in moving around the house and performing their daily activities.

7. Risk of Falling

   There will come a stage when it will become difficult for your parents to walk on their own. They will be at risk of falling and need some kind of support while walking, like a walker or a wheelchair. Sudden falls are one of the leading causes of older people’s injuries, bruises, bone breaking or even death. But if you find them unable to walk properly, it is safer to provide these support tools. 

   Also, keep your parents health insurance policy renewed, as it will come in handy during medical emergencies.

8. Prolonged Pain

   There may be instances where your parents may not tell you about the recent pain they might be experiencing. They often tend to downplay such aches as just an effect of ageing, but they could also be a symptom of something more sinister. So, make it a point to check with them for any pain they may be experiencing and provide them with the necessary treatment and medical help.

9. Feeling Dizzy 

   You need to watch out for any signs of dizziness in your parents. Low blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid and medications can be one of the primary reasons for your parents feeling dizzy throughout the day. If you find them dizzy, get their medical check-ups done.

10. Inability to Drive

    Your parents might face some trouble while driving their car. It can be a vision problem, hand-eye coordination or simply a problem of awareness. They might try to withhold these symptoms because they do not want to lose their independence to drive. However, this can lead to a fatal disaster, so try to accompany them while driving as much as possible. On the safe side, you can also hire a driver to take your parents around.

What Can You Do to Ensure Your Parent’s Health and Wellbeing?

The best thing you can do to ensure your parent’s health and wellbeing is to stay with your parents. If you cannot stay with them because of your job requirements in a different city or country, you can do the following:

1. Buy Health insurance

   Amid the rise in sedentary lifestyles and growing health problems, there are different family health insurance plans available in the market. Get your parents covered against healthcare expenses by purchasing the right a mediclaim policy that best suits their health needs.

2. Communicate Regularly 

   It is your responsibility as a child to convince your parents not to keep their health issues under wraps, as it can prove to be dangerous in the future. Make them comfortable with disclosing their feelings and health issues with you. Moreover, if you periodically share your feelings and worries for them, you may motivate them to take better care of themselves and inform you about any symptoms of their deteriorating health conditions. 

3. Encourage Them for Timely Health Check-ups 

   Timely health check-ups are a great way to stay updated about your parent’s current health conditions. Encourage your parents to go for regular health check-ups and show up at their doctor’s appointments. You may need to make an effort and fix a doctor’s appointment, especially if you see them going through any signs of deteriorating health. 

4. Take Safety Measures - 

   Identify problems that your parents are facing, and try to provide them with a practical solution - be it making the house more senior citizen-friendly, using toilet seats, etc. Also, keep a check on your parent’s mood and feelings to ensure they do not succumb to loneliness or depression.

Final Thoughts

Your elderly parents might not tell you blatantly, when they need help. It is your responsibility to identify any warning signs and get them the required medical help. Make them comfortable with sharing their changing health conditions with you so that you can take timely measures. Let them know that you care about them and make sure to keep their health insured with a senior citizen mediclaim policy.