The Holiday 'Health Check': Adult Children Can Help Aging Parents

Madison, Wisconsin - Parents reaching their mid-70s and beyond may benefit from a little extra attention from their visiting children during the holidays.

According to Dr. Steve Barczi, a geriatrician and associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, adults who live far away from their parents and infrequently see them might notice changes in their health, and discussing them sensitively can help prevent problems down the road. 

"A whole host of health problems may gradually start to develop and cause challenges," he says. "A person may not have just one or two medical problems, but eight or 10." 

One common condition most of us have never heard of is sarcopenia, which leads to shrinking muscle mass in older adults. Loss of muscle increases the risk of falling, problems with swallowing and choking, and sleep apnea, which can be related to changes in throat muscles that maintain breathing at night. Barczi suggests the following:

• Watch elderly parents as they arise from a chair and then walk, especially climbing up and down steps, to make sure they have proper balance and to look for unsteady walking patterns that could increase their risk for falling.
• Observe if they choke on food or have problems swallowing.
• Talk with them about their sleeping habits and how rested they feel upon awakening in the morning if it appears they are tired. Sleep education, medications or devices such as CPAP might be helpful.

Dr. Carey Gleason, a neuropsychologist and assistant professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, says adult children should also determine if their parents are having memory lapses that could mean the start of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

"Some symptoms that should raise concerns include repetitive questions and statements, misplacing items, trouble managing medications, missing appointments, showing more confusion, and struggling to follow conversations," she says.

Both Barczi and Gleason say adult children who see these symptoms should discuss them with their parents, and go over options on how to alleviate them. These may include:

• Reviewing concerns with their primary care provider
• Seeing a geriatrician who is a specialist that focuses on the care of older adults
• Contacting United Way's 2-1-1 phone number to identify local resources or using home care services.
• Relocation to a safer living setting if other options are not helpful.

Gleason says discussions involving an older parent's healthcare needs can be difficult, but early intervention is the key to preventing future problems.

"Accidental overdosing, undetected illness, and home accidents caused by cognitive impairment can actually hasten further declines," she says. "The older adult and their family may actually slow the rate of progression by intervening early. You can't regain what has been lost, but you can work to maintain what remains by stabilizing day-to-day life."