A recent report has revealed that thousands of Americans are likely to first recognize signs of their parents’ dementia while visiting with them during the holidays.

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“Shortly after arriving home from the airport, an estimated tens of thousands of adults will invariably witness one or both parents forget something that just happened, misremember details of their lives that have been discussed hundreds of times before, or momentarily lose track of what they were doing right in the middle of an action,” lead author Dr. Tim Belarde wrote in the report.

Furthermore, the report identified that 80 percent will witness their parents record inaccurate information on a calendar, 65 percent will experience their mothers reference an event from childhood that never occurred, and half will witness their father confusing siblings’ names.

 (Related: Can Parents Live With Their Adult Children?)

“For the remainder of their vacations, these Americans will spend hours carefully observing their parents for further signs of mental decline and then convince themselves that any brain lapses were anomalies due to the stress of the holidays, ultimately leaving with dozens of unsettling memories they will repress in an effort to deny the inevitable.”

(Related: Late-Stage Alzheimer’s and What to Expect)

Sources reported that an estimated 40,000 mothers (at press time) had recently asked their children to send their flight itineraries for the fourth time.

Read more: http://www.theonion.com/articles/thousands-of-americans-to-notice-first-signs-of-de,34828/

Christopher J. Berry is a Michigan Alzheimer’s Planning planning lawyer and Medicaid planning attorney dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.theeldercarefirm.com/ or call 248.481.4000

People need to proceed with caution when trying intergenerational living.

By Chris Berry

Due to the economy an increasing number of parents are living with their children. It’s far more affordable for two families to combine homes opposed to living separately.

Aging parents require care and it’s typically easier and less-expensive to care for them at home versus paying a caregiver to offer in-home care or make the move into assisted living. Money isn’t the only factor that impacts these decisions.

(Related: Late-Stage Alzheimer’s and Caregiver Expectations)

Many believe it is their duty to take care of their family in time of need, while others don’t trust hired caregivers with their loved ones due to horror stories passed along from years passed. Combined, all of these factors often result in the opinion that moving into the adult child’s home is the optimal solution given the circumstances.

According to those surveyed for a Gallup & Robinson research project, less than a third (31%) said they would live with a younger family member when they could no longer live on their own. Conversely, more than half (51%) expressed willingness to have an older parent move in with them when they could no longer live independently.

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Many adults are discouraged by the notion of living with their adult children. Living in the same space can often prove overwhelming. A shared household can be a tremendous emotional challenge, where establishing parameters for one another’s physical and emotional space is intensely difficult and reminiscent of teenagers trying to demonstrate their independence.

People need to proceed with caution when trying intergenerational living. Those that aren’t can end up feeling trapped, with no where to go. With that  said, if people choose the route of intergenerational living, it is imperative to lay down mutual ground rules for everything from finances to privacy. Naturally, a dying parent or a loved one with late-stage dementia is different. In those instances, you make be filling a gap in car, or simply want to be a part of your parent’s life for his or her final months.

(Related: How to Choose a Caregiver)

Be careful not to bring your parents into your home to fulfill a childhood issue  by proving yourself to them. Also, evaluate whether guilt is the main reason that you are asking them to move in with you, or they are pressuring you into doing so. Living together only works when the decision is made for  the right reasons and the personalities are copacetic enough to make it work.

Read more: http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/parents-living-with-adult-children-152285.htm

Christopher J. Berry is a Michigan elder law attorney Dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.theeldercarefirm.com/ or call 248.481.4000

Families must recognize when an aging parent needs help at home

By Chris Berry

Is your mom or dads unopened mail piling up? Is your dad, who previously took great pride in his wardrobe, wearing dirty clothes and paying little attention to his appearance? Are there bruises or cuts on your aging parent’s arms that  they cannot explain or remember? When you ask your aging parent these questions do they dismiss you and ensure that everything is alright?

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 It is difficult for aging parents to admit that they need help because that is to admit that they are no longer able to take care of themselves. “Denial is the unrealistic hope that a problem is not really happening and will go away by itself. Admitting they need help and accepting assistance is not easy for people as they age. It represents a loss of independence. Denial plays a major role – and signs get ignored,” says Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care.

(Related: Late-Stage Alzheimer’s and Caregiver Expectations)

As a result, it is the family’s duty to identify the warning signs that an aging parent may need assistance with day-to-day living tasks. Recognizing these signs doesn’t necessarily mean that your parent needs to be put in assisted living or a nursing home, but it likely means that they some help in their home. Here are are some signs that will allow you to recognize is your elderly parent needs some help at home:

• Rotten food sitting around

• Failure to attend important appointments

• Bruises that cannot be explained

• Difficulty getting up when seated

• Trouble with walking, balance and mobility

• Difficulty completing tasks that were once easy

• A tendency to forget

• Body odor

• Poor hygiene

• Intense urine smell in the house

• Obvious decline in grooming habits and personal care

(Related: Alzheimer’s Disease and the Case For Copper)

• Extreme clutter and dirty laundry piling up

• Piles of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox

• Notices of late payments, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors

• Declining diet or weight loss

• Disinterest in hobbies and activities

• Extreme mood swings

• Failure to take medications – or taking more than the prescribed dosage

• Diagnosis of dementia or early onset Alzheimer’s

• Unexplained dents and scratches on a car

Read more: http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/signs-your-parent-needs-help-143228.htm

Christopher J. Berry is an elder law lawyer in Michigan Dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.theeldercarefirm.com/ or call 248.481.4000