Age is something that can easily sneak up on everyone, and therefore it can sometimes come as a shock to realise that your mum and dad are not as active as they once was.
A lot of parents try to hide their struggles from their children; often because they are embarrassed to admit that they need help. For a lot of children, it’s difficult to think about their parents growing old.
This means that it’s easy to miss the subtle hints that more help might be needed. Sometimes it can take a serious illness or accident to drive home the fact that something is wrong. However, there are signs you can look out for.
1. You Notice Bruises Appearing Frequently
Have you started to notice bruises appearing on your mum and dad when you go around to see them? You’re probably told that it’s “nothing” or that they “can’t remember” how it happened. It could be a sign that they are having difficulties with their mobility. Maybe they have been falling over regularly; perhaps when walking up and down the stairs.
2. They Don’t Want to Leave the House
Adults will not admit that they need help as they feel like this means they have to give up their independence. If your parents suddenly decide that they no longer want to leave the house as often as they once did, it could be a sign that something is bothering them. Is there outside stairs that they are feeling apprehensive about?
3. Neglecting Personal Appearance
For a lot of people, the first signs of their parents needs changing come from noticing a change in their personal appearance. Has your usually very well groomed dad started to sit around in creased and wrinkled clothes? Has your mum not brushed her hair in a long time despite it being done regularly in the past? This could be a sign that they are finding it hard to get up and downstairs to their bedroom and bathroom.
4. Untidy House
Look around your parent’s house a little more closely next time you visit. Is there anything that doesn’t look like it normally does? A lot of people notice that the house begins to suffer when mobility issues start to become a serious problem. If you parents are usually house proud but you start to notice stains that haven’t been cleaned up or dishes piling up on the worktops; it might be time to sit down with them and ask them if they are okay.
When your parents start to find it difficult to use the stairs in their home, it’s definitely time to start thinking about making changes. It doesn’t mean that they have to move out of the home that they love – there is another option.
A stairlift can provide your parents with the independence and continued quality of life that they want. This will provide them with the means to access every floor in their home – without any help from anyone else.
To find out more about the stairlifts that we have available and their benefits, please contact us today on 0800 046 3438 and we will be more than happy to help.