The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Canada's population is rapidly aging. By 2011, Canada will have over 1.3 million citizens over the age of 80. As 40 per cent of individuals in Canada over the age of 30 currently care for an aging relative, The Care Guide has issued the top 10 signs that your senior relative may require a change in housing. The top 10 signs in order of seriousness that a senior may require a change in living arrangements, as outlined by The Care Guide, http://www.thecareguide.com 10. Less active lifestyle and tendency to stay at home 9. Exterior of home is less well maintained than historically 8. Change in communication quality or frequency 7. Fewer invites to their home or a change in visit patterns 6. Unopened bills and other mail 5. Unkempt home and laundry or dishes piling up 4. Unexplained weight loss 3. Blackened pots or other damage to environment 2. Bruises or other signs of trauma from falls or difficulty navigating around the house And the number one sign: 1. If you're experiencing concern for their well-being, they probably need help. "It's one of the biggest shifts in an adult child's life, recognizing that parents need assistance in taking care of themselves," adds Mercey. "Society teaches us how to raise children and recognize their needs, but there's no similar awareness that our parents are changing, largely because we think of them as caretakers, not the other way around."
