Four Big Red Flags that Get Dismissed as Quirky Behavior
Sometimes aging adults have small habits or oddities in their behavior and those get dismissed as just “being how she is.” But some of these oddities can be big red flags that indicate that there might be bigger problems. Even if some of these quirks are things your elderly family member has always done, you might need to look deeper at how they might have changed as she has aged.
Lots of Mail or Magazines Coming to the House
If your elderly family member gets a lot of mail, you might want to pay closer attention to what’s arriving. Some aging adults might forget which magazines they’re subscribed to or what mailing lists they’re on. That can accidentally lead to them subscribing or signing up multiple times for one program. Sometimes that doesn’t matter, but other times, like in the case of magazine subscriptions, that can be costly for your senior.
She’s Always Going to Win a Contest
Is your senior constantly sharing with you that she’s about to win a prize or a contest? That might be a good thing, or it might be something a little scarier. Lottery tickets and other forms of gambling can get expensive and they might be draining your senior’s bank account as well as her self-esteem. Beyond the money, she can get addicted to the idea that the next ticket or entry form might be “the one.”
Orders from Television Ads or Programs Are Piling Up
If your elderly family member is having trouble sleeping, she might be watching more home shopping channels and infomercials than you realize. Those tend to be on late at night and lots of products, particularly on infomercials, are targeted toward older adults. If those packages are starting to pile up, you might need to do some digging.
Her Bills Aren’t Getting Paid on Time
Something else to investigate is whether your senior is having a difficult time keeping up with her bills. This can happen because she’s spending her money elsewhere, but it can also happen because she’s just forgetting to pay them. You might offer to take this task on for your aging family member, especially if she’s not interested in finding a better solution.
It’s not always easy to spot some of these signs. In fact, if you don’t see your elderly family member every day, some of these may be almost invisible for you. Senior care providers can help you to spot more of these situations more quickly so that you can put solutions in place.
Excerpt: Your elderly family member might be having trouble, but it might not look like trouble on the surface. Some of your senior’s quirks are warning signs.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Care Big Timber, MT please contact the caring staff at AdvoCare Home Care Services today at 406-582-5402.
