Recognize Elders Approaching Greater Need
 

Most often, it is not until a spouse passes or there is change in  routine that family (typically children) become aware of shifts in abilities and the fear parents have in asking for help or admitting their limitations. 

At their simplest forms, incidents occur because of pride -  because seniors stretch themselves further than they may be capable of successfully completing.  Asking for help, whether it be by asking for a hand when stepping out of a car, or requesting reading glasses at a restaurant are all little steps taken to prepare for these new phases of aging. 

Typically the next phase is an event, maybe a fender bender, a parent eating expired food in the fridge, or needing a walker but not using it. Another part might be the reminiscing stage where they are telling and sharing stories, processing and reviewing what has happened in their life. (Amy Cameron O’Rourke) 

More overt signs that parents may need help to live independently include: noticeable changes in their hygiene, increased forgetfulness, difficulty with mobility like frequent falls or trouble getting up, unexplained bruises, neglected household chores, significant weight loss or gain, changes in mood, medication misuse, loss of interest in hobbies, and difficulty managing daily tasks like cooking or dressing.