3 Things to Ask Your Parent's Home Health Aide to Gauge Their Health

As your parent ages, he or she may be aware of the onset of some health shortcomings but may attempt to hide these from you. This can be a concern, because your parent might seem find when you visit him or her, but struggle in a variety of areas when you're not around. If you can convince your parent to accept some help at home from a home health aide, you can partner with this health professional to learn more about your parent's condition. The aide has the training and experience to identify age-related health issues, so you can confer frequently with the aide to see how your parent's health is doing. Here are some things to ask about.

Do they have memory issues?

Some elderly individuals attempt to hide memory issues from their family members, but doing so might be a little more difficult around a home health aide. If you've begun to suspect that your parent's memory is slipping, share this thought with the health aide. Then, after some visits, you can confer with him or her to get his or her professional opinion. The health aide might even ask your parent different questions, and then ask similar questions later in the visit or during a subsequent visit, to assess the situation.

Are there any mobility concerns?

It's a concern if your parent is trying to hide his or her mobility issues from you, because a full while living alone could be extremely serious. Your parent might dismiss mobility issues when you're around by saying that he or she is just stiff or sore, but you can count on the home health aide providing an informed opinion about your parent's mobility. Through prolonged visits, the aide will be able to assess whether the parent is constantly struggling to get around or finding balance a challenge.

Can they manage their own self care?

People who begin to have trouble caring for themselves as they age may feel embarrassed and attempt to hide this issue from family members. The home health aide will be able to monitor your parent's ability to perform day-to-day tasks, such as bathing, using the bathroom, grooming, and eating. Part of the aide's job is to help with each of these tasks as is warranted; in doing so, the aide should get a sense of how much this assistance is needed. For example, in helping your parent off the toilet, the aide will be able to assess if this task would be difficult alone.

For more information or assistance, contact local home care services.