What to Look For When Changes are Happening

Your loved one may be showing warning signs that could suggest they need more care and support. If you know what the signs are you might be able to do something before there is a crisis.  Identifying Changes is a good list of things to watch for.

Some loved ones may be scared, angry, sad, or embarrassed by how their health or aging is affecting them, and they may be good at covering it up when they notice these changes. They may not want to talk, making it hard to bring up the subject with them.

Your loved one may give different family members different bits of information about how they’re doing. Getting together to talk can help piece things together so everyone is on the same page when it comes to planning for changes in care.

When you’re thinking about possible changes, it’s important to keep in mind the dignity of your loved one. One way to do that is to keep them involved in making decisions about things that affect them. For example, it’s important to talk about updating any legal and financial documents that will affect future health and well-being. For more information about finances and legal matters, click here.

The Vancouver Island Health Authority has created a list of Age-Related Changes; the language used is medical but you may find the information useful.

If your loved one doesn’t have a diagnosed medical condition but you see them becoming more vulnerable, you may want to look at our section on frailty.