1. How are you feeling today?
This question helps families get a sense of how their elderly parents are doing on a day-to-day basis. It can be difficult to ask directly about health, so this question can be a way to ease into that conversation. If their parents are not feeling well, the family can then address the issue head-on.
2. Are you in any pain?
If an elderly parent is in pain, it is important for the family to know about it. Pain can be a sign of a more serious problem, so it’s important to get it checked out.
3. What medications are you taking and why?
Elderly parents often take multiple medications, and it’s important for the family to know why they are taking them. Sometimes medications can interact with each other in harmful ways, so it’s important to be aware of all the medications an elderly parent is taking.
4. Have you been to the doctor recently? What did they say?
It’s important for families to know what doctors their elderly parents are seeing and what they are saying. If there are any concerns, the family can bring them up with the doctor.
5. How is your memory? Has it changed at all recently?
Memory problems are common as people get older, so it’s important for families to ask their elderly parents about their memory periodically. If there have been any changes recently, the family can help by providing support and resources as needed.
6. Have you been feeling down or sad lately for no reason?
Depression is also common in older adults, so it’s important for families to watch out for signs of depression in their elderly parents. If an elderly parent is feeling down or sad for no reason, the family can provide support and resources as needed.
7. Are you having trouble sleeping or eating properly?
It’s not uncommon for elderly parents to have difficulty sleeping or eating properly as they age. If this is the case, the family can provide support and resources as needed.
8. Do you have any concerns about your health that you’d like to discuss with us?
This question gives elderly parents a chance to bring up any health concerns they may have themselves. If there are any concerns, the family can work together to find a solution.
9. How is your financial situation right now? Are there any concerns we need to be aware of?
Financial concerns can become more common as people age, so it’s important for families to ask their elderly parents about their finances periodically. If there are any issues, the family can help by providing support and resources as needed.
10. Are there any other topics you’d like to bring up that we haven’t discussed yet?
This question gives elderly parents a chance to bring up anything else they may want to discuss with their families. It allows them to open up about any other issues or concerns they may have that weren’t covered in the checklist. This way, the family can be aware of any topics the elderly parent would like to discuss.
