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Neglect, financial exploitation and healthcare fraud are important issues that family members of frail seniors should keep an eye on. Seniors may exhibit signs and symptoms of these problems in the same way they would with other types of abuse.

Neglect is a passive form of abuse, wherein the perpetrator fails to provide adequate care to meet the victim’s needs, resulting in harmful or potentially harmful situations. Some signs that an elderly loved one may be experiencing neglect include:
 Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, or dehydration
 Untreated physical problems
 Unsanitary living conditions
 Being left dirty or unbathed
 Unsuitable clothing for the weather
 Unsafe living conditions (ex. no heat or running water, fire hazards, etc.)
 Desertion of the senior in a public place

Financial Exploitation is the improper use of an elder’s funds or assets. This type of abuse may go unnoticed by seniors who do not manage their own funds, so it is extremely important for family members to look out for the following warning signs:
Significant withdrawals from the senior’s accounts
Sudden changes in the senior’s financial condition
Items or cash missing from the home
Suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles and policies
Unpaid bills
Financial activity the senior couldn’t have done (ex. ATM withdrawals when the account holder is bedridden)
Unnecessary services, goods or subscriptions

Healthcare Fraud or Abuse occurs when individuals or institutions target elderly individuals in an attempt to sell illegitimate healthcare treatments or products. Be on the lookout for the following signs that your loved ones may be the victim of healthcare fraud or abuse:
 Multiple billings for the same medical service or device
 Evidence of over- or under-medication
 Evidence of inadequate care when bills have been paid in full
 Problems with the healthcare facility (ex. poorly trained or insufficient staff, crowding, inadequate responses to questions about care)

It is imperative that family members visit their elderly loved ones as often as possible and communicate with their care providers on a regular basis. Be vigilant and address any suspicions about elder abuse immediately. At Practical Care Continuum in Austin, we know that safety and security are primary to a good in-home care situation. Call us today at 512.380.9339 to schedule in-home care you can trust.

For more resources check out our “Monthly Survival Kit”

I have exercised all my life, but come from parents who considered breaking a sweat a waist of time.  So when I see my mother in so much pain due to back problems I think to myself (because I don’t want to push her) that it would be so helpful for her to strengthen her back and leg muscles.  She lays in bed all day either watching TV or reading and everyday she is in severe pain.  I know that if I don’t get moving everyday I get stiff and my moods aren’t the best.

Recently, while going through my Twitter account, I came across this blog post from the Alzheimer’s Reading Room, on what I see as getting things done to make you and your elders life easier and more enjoyable.   But a huge part of the article covers getting his mother to exercise even though she is mean to him on the way to the gym.  I’m thinking I need to get my own mother to the gym or have someone come to the house who can start working with her.

Has anyone starting something like this with their elderly parent?  Do you have any suggestions for a trainer or physical therapist in the Austin area?

My mom has always been a loner.  I don’t remember her being around much as I was growing up as she was always either at work or hiding in her room.  She still does those things (other than the work) while living with me.  She says she isolates herself because she doesn’t want to bother the family but it’s hard to know why she does it now when it’s been a life long pattern.

When she does emerge from her room, the kids love to visit with her and the dog absolutely adores her.  She unfortunately feeds him from her plate.  But she also pets him and lets him hide under her chair when the occasional Texas thunderstorm happens by.

Every year our family goes to Garner State Park to camp but this year we decided to visit a private camp ground called 7 bluffs.  We rented a big house so everyone, all 15 of us, could spend time together with Grandma, or Nona as she likes to be called.  Up to the last minute I thought she would change her mind but I kept encouraging her and she went.  I got her books to read and anything else that might keep her busy.  But after the first day she was ready to leave.  I think she missed her television which she leaves on 24/7 at home.  There was only one in the house and the kids had hijacked it for cartoons and tween shows.

She told one of my siblings she would never  come with us again.  She hasn’t told me that.  I guess she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. I have to wonder though why she complains about not seeing her grandchildren more often and when she gets the opportunity to see all of them at once for 5 days she wants to high tail it out of there.  She did tell me the highlight of the trip was seeing the baby deer outside her window.  Sigh, I guess spending time with family will never be her thing.

Change is hard for anyone but especially older adults who have lived a lifetime doing things a certain way.  I shouldn’t have expected her to change her routines and become more social because I thought she would have a good time.  She knows what she likes and sticks to it.  I felt as though if I didn’t ask her to go her feelings would be hurt and she thought if she said no my feelings would be hurt.  I guess a little better communication would have been in order here but although she has  been living with me for over 6 months now I still can’t shake that mother/daughter role with every aspect of our relationship.

I think the lesson for caregivers is to find ways to socialize their parent(s) that follow their life long patterns.  Or at the very least introduce new activities in small doses.  Maybe 5 days was not such a good idea and maybe I should have brought her her own television.  I can’t help trying and I don’t think it’s right for caregivers to not try something.  Our parents did it for us when we where young and now it’s our time to change roles.

TDADS (Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services) just completed our annual review and we where given an A+.  No deficiencies in services were found.  YEAH!  We work very hard at Practical Care to provide great care in an organized and efficient manner.   Since the beginning of this company in 2000 I have always believed in going above and beyond with our care especially in the area of Case Management.  We are the only provider that I know of in the Austin area that uses Social Workers to manage our client’s care and it shows.  We are still ranked as one of the top ten providers in the area and proud of it.