Spending Time With Your Elderly Loved Ones This Holiday: Signs To Look Out For

The holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to reminisceand celebrate, but they also provide us the ability to detect cognitive orphysical changes in our elderly loved ones. Below we list several telltale signs to look out for:

1. Change in appearance. Is she unkempt or wearing inappropriate clothing for the season? This may signify the early signs of dementia.
2. Has she lost or gained an unnaturally large amount of weight? Loss of appetite may be the result of depression or dementia.  Weight gain may be caused by water retention.
3. Has her gait changed? Loss of mobility and muscle wasting may be due to lack of exercise or a fall. Neurological disorders may cause shuffling.
4. Is she calling family members by the wrong names? Is she telling surreal stories that couldn't possibly have occurred? Confusion and short-term memory loss may be the result of dementia, stroke, dehydration, or a urinary tract infection.
5. Is she recounting tales of lottery or sweepstakes winnings, IRS threats, or large gifts to charity?  Financial elder abuse is on the rise, aided by robocalls, email viruses, ride sharing, and delivery services.
6. Is she uncharacteristically quiet or does she ask people to repeat themselves? This may be a sign that she is suffering from hearing loss. Without hearing aids, seniors often become withdrawn and depressed.

There are many more signs we may see when spending time withour loved ones during the holidays.  Ifyou notice any changes in appearance or behavior, please act early and schedulean appointment with their doctor.  Thisis also a great time to speak with an elder law attorney and plan for yourelderly loved ones to receive the care and guidance they will require as theyage.