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Mental Health & Taking Care of Elderly Parents

IDENTIFYING EARLY CHANGES IN COGNITION

Watching your parents grow older can be a difficult process. As elderly loved ones age, changes in cognition are likely to occur. However, these changes are often part of the normal aging process , and it’s important to know the difference between normal and abnormal changes in cognition.

Maintaining

Brain Health

For normal aging, it’s typical to see some changes in memory and other mild impairments to cognition. You might notice that it will take longer for your parents to learn a new skill, remember a story, or that they get easily distracted while doing so. So long as these symptoms aren’t frequent and severe enough to disrupt everyday life, they can be considered normal for an older adult. To keep the brain healthy, it’s important to make sure that our parents are taken care of mentally and physically. Here are some good habits that will help anybody maintain regular brain  health:

  • Regular Sleep
    • Ask if your parents are getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night. A healthy brain needs this time to recharge. Oftentimes, television or highly stimulating activities right before bed can interfere with our sleep cycle.
  • Good diet:
    • Fried, fatty foods will not contribute to good brain health. Moving towards a “whole foods” diet with portioned grains, fruits, and vegetables will help the brain meet its full potential.
  • Exercise:
    • Physical activity is good for the body and the mind. Playing to your parents’ interests with outdoor games or even regular walks will help maintain stamina and stimulate the mind.
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how to spot

red flags

While changes to cognitive function can be normal for older adults, there are some red flags to watch out for that might tell you your loved one is suffering from a more serious condition. Specifically, it’s important to watch out for drastic changes that greatly affect their ability to complete daily tasks or do the things they love. Your parents might present red flags like:

 

  • Regularly repeating themselves without knowing
  • Needing reminders for essential tasks
  • Problems balancing a checkbook
  • Only recalling the distant past
  • Not remembering events 1-3 days afterwards
  • Loss of interest in hobbies, events, or social interactions
  • Forgetting appointments
  • Weight loss
  • Personality changes
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What to do

when you are concerned

While these red flags can be helpful in identifying early problems and significant changes in cognition, it’s important to recognize that each person’s brain is going to react differently to aging. What you can do is look for inconsistencies in your parent’s behavior. If your mom is regularly losing her house key, but has done that for as long as you can remember, this is likely not a red flag. However, if she has always been a great storyteller and good speaker, but suddenly begins to tell the same story multiple times without knowing she is repeating herself, this might be a sign of more serious brain health issues. If you begin to notice any of these red flags, you should encourage your parent to:

identifying

issues

While these red flags can be helpful in identifying early problems and significant changes in cognition, it’s important to recognize that each person’s brain is going to react differently to aging. What you can do is look for inconsistencies in your parent’s behavior. If your mom is regularly losing her house key, but has done that for as long as you can remember, this is likely not a red flag. However, if she has always been a great storyteller and good speaker, but suddenly begins to tell the same story multiple times without knowing she is repeating herself, this might be a sign of more serious brain health issues. If you begin to notice any of these red flags, you should encourage your parent to:

Continue

Success

is just as likely as it is with younger adults

  • Visit their primary care provider:
    • Your primary care provider can rule out any physical ailments or lifestyle issues that might be affecting your loved one’s cognition. If they suspect there is an issue with brain health and abnormal changes in cognition, they can refer your parent to a number of skilled professionals such as the clinical psychologists at WellQor. From there, they can determine the root cause of cognitive decline, and develop a treatment plan to help your parent preserve their way of life and cope with the aging process.
  • Know who to call for help:
    • Make sure that your parent has contacts they can reach out to if they need it, and that these contacts are physically written in places they won’t forget. Sticky notes on the fridge, or a list on their phone can help ensure they have access to a support network if needed.
  • Stay mentally active:
    • Staying mentally active can help ensure lasting brain health. This can include maintaining social ties and regularly engaging with friends, neighbors, and relatives. It can also include learning new skills, reading, writing, building, and generally engaging in activities that are interesting and stimulating to them. If you join them in these activities, you can help ensure they are regularly exercising their brain and bond with them over common interests.
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Older Adults Have Unique Mental Healthcare Needs

By following these steps and looking out for red flags, you can help your loved one identify early changes in cognition, find the root cause of these changes, and treat them accordingly. It’s important to identify issues with brain health early, as underlying conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s can be managed effectively if identified early on.

Candace Williams, LCSW, ASW-G, FDC, CMS, FDC, MCPM

Candace Williams, LCSW, ASW-G, FDC, CMS, FDC, MCPM

Candace Williams is the Director of Clinician Development for WellQor, the nation's leading provider of behavioral health services for Seniors. Candace received her MSW from Columbia University, and has spent over 20 years in the field developing unique interventions to better the lives of her clients. Throughout her time in the field, Candace has worked as a certified geriatric social worker, certified mediator, crisis management specialist, and family development specialist.

Home Away From Home: Granny Flats

If you thought having your aging parent move into your house was the only alternative to expensive assisted livng facilities when they are no longer able to live independently, you may be the perfect candidate for an ADU, or Accessory Dwelling Unit.  ADUs are also sometimes referred to as granny flats or mother-in-law cottages.  These are small standalone units added to the backyard of an existing single family home, or apartments converted from extra space in the house such as a garage or basement. 

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Product Spotlight: Electronic Caregiver

Marybeth Van Horn, 67, a resident of Denver, Colorado and a nurse of 45 years, has both experienced and heard real-life stories of how health technology can save lives. Five years ago, she slipped on black ice in a parking lot, snapping her femur while mid-air. When she hit the pavement, her wrist broke and her lumbar and cervical vertebra shifted, leaving her on the ground in pain. The incident would leave her hospitalized for a month, and bedridden for three more months. At that time, she did not have Electronic Caregiver’s Premier system or she could have immediately called for emergency help.

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5 Easy Memory Reminders

Memory loss is a common side effect of aging, especially for those approaching the early stages of Dementia. This can be scary and stressful for our elders and their families, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of an independent lifestyle. Actually, by changing habits and introducing what our clinicians call “compensatory skills,” we can help elders avoid the common pitfalls of memory loss and continue to lead happy and healthy lives. I wanted to share a few of these skills, so all of you who are supporting your elders at home can help them thrive.

Learn More »
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