Physical Care is only part of the ElderCaring
Equation. Now let’s look at your parent’s emotional and mental functioning:
Memory
| a. |
Is OK or has occasional forgetfulness |
| b. |
Needs a few reminders |
| c. |
Can remember long ago events, but
forgets things from today or last week |
| d. |
Can’t remember recent or long ago
events |
Emotional Stability
(mood swings, depression)
| a. |
has no problem in this area |
| b. |
is socially isolated (few friends or has
lost friends) |
| c. |
often has "the blues", cries
easily or is easily provoked to anger |
| d. |
becomes verbally abusive or physically
aggressive |
Cognition (logic and
thinking abilities) - circle as many as you feel apply
| a. |
is OK |
| b. |
is aware of people and places, but not
time |
| c. |
is not aware of place or time |
| d. |
does not recognize some family members
or close friends |
| e. |
cannot account for time or spends time
in purposeless activity |
| f. |
has difficulty expressing self verbally
or understanding/following instructions |
| g. |
sleep disturbance (sleeps more or less
than before) |
| h. |
loss of interest in previously enjoyed
activities |
| i. |
behavior or emotional response is
inappropriate or exaggerated for situation |
| j. |
difficulty comprehending events or
activities (misses the point of simple jokes or plays on words) |
| k. |
has difficulty handling new or
unfamiliar situations |
| l. |
refuses to leave home |
Executive Functions
(abstract thought and decision making)
| a. |
is capable of making all of own
decisions |
| b. |
loss of interest in activities over time |
| c. |
lack of insight that anything is wrong |
| d. |
can make decisions, but is unable to
follow through with action |
| e. |
has difficulty with more complex tasks |
| f. |
cannot sequence tasks to complete a
project |
| g. |
makes excuses for not doing activities
of past |
| h. |
neglects personal hygiene |
| i. |
makes inappropriate decisions |
| j. |
"packrat" behavior (hoarding
or collecting even inappropriate items) |
| k. |
becomes argumentative or defensive when
inappropriate choices are questioned by others |
| l. |
if cannot remember an event, will make
things up to cover up |
| m. |
cannot perform simple arithmetic |
| n. |
has difficulty with ANY changes in
routine |
The items are arranged in order of severity.
Everyone forgets things from time to time or has a blue mood, but mood swings and profound
memory changes are not a part of normal aging. The more items circled the greater the
level of impairment. Combining this with memory or emotional problems creates very real
concerns regarding your parent’s abilities to provide for his/her own care without
help.
Many older adults have a chronic medical condition of one sort
or another. Looking at the whole person can give valuable insight into how well your
parent is able to manage his/her physical health.
Click here to move on to Section IV, Well Being &
Safety |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
| 5 | This
page information may be used on other web sites only with permission from
our site.
Click here to make a request. |
