It may be painful to face the reality that your parents—the people who raised and took care of you when you were young—are getting older and may need assistance taking care of themselves. It may also be difficult to discuss their need for additional help with them. Starting the conversation early, while your parents are in good health and able to make decisions for themselves, can make the process less stressful. With some advance planning and cooperation between family members, you can take steps to ensure that your parents get first-rate care and remain as healthy as possible, for as long as possible.

As you step in to help your aging parents, be sure to tune into changes in their physical and emotional health and their ability to take care of their own needs. Ask yourself the following questions about each parent:

• Has your parent experienced unexplained weight loss?
• Does your parent have trouble getting safely around at home?
• Is your parent having trouble handling bathing, dressing, and grooming needs?
• Has your parent missed medical appointments?
• Has your parent experienced a significant shift in mood?
• Is your parent having difficulty performing regular activities?
• Does your parent fail to take medications as directed by a physician? 
• Is your parent unable to drive safely?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s a good idea to ask your parent’s doctor for help in further assessing the situation. In addition, you should continue to be on the lookout for major changes in your parents and discuss them together. Sooner or later, many elderly parents will struggle with one or more of these physical or emotional challenges. By taking a proactive approach to these issues, you’ll be in a better position to help your parents get the medical care needed and the most effective home care services.