Cathy Murphy: Keeping a Loved One at Home

What today's seniors want most is to age in place. What they fear most is to lose their independence. But what they're least likely to ask for is the kind of help that will keep them comfortable and safe at home.

That's why it is often up to the adult children of aging parents to look for signs that their elderly loved one needs help at home. Neglecting those signs will likely lead seniors to the kind of dependence that most would like to avoid.

Often, assisting seniors with some basic services, such as meal preparation, light housework and medical reminders, can make the difference between them living at home or at a facility.

The latest report in the American Association of Retired People's report "Beyond 50 series" confirms that seniors' number one fear is the loss of independence.

"The vast majority of people 50 and older do not require long-term assistance at any given time. However, most people will require assistance at some point in their lives and most families will face these issues with their older family members," the report says.

Seniors' expectations for remaining home remain high. In a survey conducted late last year by Home Instead Senior Care, 83 percent of seniors said they are very or somewhat likely to remain in their homes instead of moving to a residential care facility.

Mary Hujer, a geriatric clinical nurse specialist for Cleveland Clinic, said some concerns of aging involve weight loss, isolation and safety and transportation issues.

Oftentimes, seniors are reluctant to seek outside help because they want to keep doing things the way they always have.

Signs to look for in an elderly person's home to determine if they are having trouble taking care of himself or herself include:

· spoiled food in the refrigerator;

· food that is not nutritious;

· soot and grime in high places where they cannot reach (seniors should never climb on objects to clean);

· dirty floors with drink spills; and

· unpaid bills that might have been forgotten.

As well, check to see if the senior has trouble keeping track of medications or is having a problem identifying household cleaning products because of bad eyesight.

"Dementia, which includes Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive problems, may impair a senior's judgment as well as their memory," Hujer said. "That's when a caregiver can intervene to promote a safe environment and help ensure a good quality of life."

By helping adult children identify the types of resources a senior might need to remain independent at home, families can avoid some of the stress that goes with caring for an aging loved one.

Cathy Murphy is the proprietor of Home Instead Senior Care on Fillmore Street. The business is part of a national network that comprises the largest provider of non-medical assistance to seniors in the United States. For more information, call (415) 441-6490 or visit the website at www.homeinstead.com.