Watching a parent, grandparent or other loved one advance in age or experience health issues is difficult. No one wants to see it happen, yet it happens to everyone. When people are going through it themselves, they may put off seeking out caregiving services as they want to maintain their independence. Sometimes it takes someone else stepping up an saying caregiving support is needed. New Jersey residents can learn to recognize the signs that care support is needed and help their loved ones get the assistance they need and set up the elder law protections they require.
How can one know if a loved one needs caregiving services? According to AARP, there are five things one can look for to determine if such assistance is required. These five signs are:
- Fall hazards are present in his or her home.
- He or she has unfinished business, such as unpaid bills.
- There are concerns about his or her ability to drive.
- He or she is too isolated.
- He or she does not look well — unkempt, sad, distressed, extreme weight changes.
All of these are signs that something is not right. They are all signs that a person is losing the ability to care for him or herself properly. This may be because of physical inability or due to cognitive issues.
When loved ones are showing signs that they are having trouble taking care of themselves, it is a good time to start talking about their needs and putting legal protections in place, if they are not already. Advance directives are a great place to start. This legal document allows the individual to have a say in decisions about what medical care they do and do not want. An elder law attorney can assist those in New Jersey with this and other legal protections available to aging and ill individuals.
