It can often be overwhelming for adult children to care for ailing parents, or other aging loved ones. Often times this generation is sandwiched between taking care of young children and caring for an older relative at the same time. Below are some of the common problems facing the elderly.
If you find yourself needing to care for an aging loved one, stay on the lookout for these types of health and financial issues.
Does Your Loved One Have Any Of These Common Problems Facing the Elderly?
Ailing Mental or Physical Health – Even with amazing advancements in medicine, our health tends to falter with age. Seniors are more susceptible to the mental and physical diseases that can eventually take their toll on the body. Their bodies can simply wear down with age, too.
Finances are Running Low – Not all seniors are equally prepared for the retirement years. It’s not uncommon for finances to run low as fixed expenses outpace savings or investments.
Rising Cost of Healthcare and Nursing Homes – As seniors have trouble saving and preparing for retirement, some of the common fixed costs of healthcare and nursing homes are on the rise. Some common medicines are becoming more expensive. Nursing home care is also growing more expensive. This can contribute to depleting savings.
Isolation or Loneliness – As seniors age, they may begin to lose loved ones from their generation. When they are apart from family and friends, it’s not uncommon to experience feelings of isolation or loneliness. Volunteering, and maintaining an active social life can help combat these feelings.
Loss of Independence – As health declines, the ability to perform necessary daily functions such as driving, may decline too. It can become frustrating and overwhelming for seniors to lose the ability to take care of themselves – especially when the family needs to step in.
Elder Abuse – Many cases of elder abuse go unreported. But they can range in nature from physical to psychological, and they can often involve some form of financial exploitation. In many circumstances, elder abuse may come from another family member. If your relative has ailing health, the stresses of elder abuse can make their health worse. Staying involved in your loved one’s life can help them from being taken advantage of.
Knowing When and How to Step In
In many circumstances, simply recognizing the problem is the first step in being able to address it. When you can stay on the lookout for the types of problems listed above, you are in a better position to be able to provide the necessary help.
