Survey Identifies Top Signs that a Senior Needs Help

CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Many adults are now facing the challenge of becoming caregivers for their parents, a role reversal sparked by the aging population in America. While there is help available, many Baby Boomers are overwhelmed being asked to make important care decisions or aren't certain on how to approach the issue. A recent survey showed that almost half (46 percent) of those who have responsibility for helping a parent select senior care have already seen signs that they need help ranging from forgetfulness/memory loss (63 percent) to disheveled/unkempt appearance (17 percent).   

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According to the Years Ahead survey, the following are the most common early indicators that an aging loved one needs care: 

Yet, almost a third (31 percent) of those who have seen signs of concern have not raised the issue of senior care with their parents because they don't know how to initiate the conversation.

To help navigate the daunting process of finding the right care for aging loved ones and to provide the resources needed for kick starting this important conversation, senior care experts at YearsAhead.com have created helpful reference materials that can be found at www.yearsahead.com/library, which include talking points for starting the senior care conversation, resources on ways to pay for care, and a unique personalized assessment tool to help Boomers and anyone caring for a senior in their life identify the right level of help their loved ones need. Within the survey, more than 70 percent of respondents indicated that talking about the issue as a family is appropriate. The online tools are designed to facilitate care discussions and improve the outcomes for seniors finding housing that meet their specific needs and goals.

"Our mission is to support families navigating the difficult and often complicated process of finding senior care by educating them on their options and connecting them locally with high-quality care providers that best match their needs," said Melissa Marchwick, General Manager of Years Ahead. "Even those that recognize common symptoms in aging are often not sure how to broach the topic with the person in need of care, so having these discussions now as a family before care is essential is a great approach."

While planning ahead is ideal, many times the need for care arises out of a crisis: mom or dad has been hospitalized or diagnosed with a serious health condition. These situations often force families to take the plunge into the confusing, complex maze of senior care without the knowledge or tools they need to have important care discussions or find the most suitable option for their aging parents. In the Years Ahead care survey, 50 percent of those that know they will be responsible for finding care for their parents have not yet discussed their parents' wishes.

To learn more about Years Ahead please visit www.yearsahead.com or call 1-877-719-3056.

About Years Ahead™
Years Ahead is the nation's most comprehensive online resource to help guide families through the process of finding right senior care solution.  The site not only educates family members on the care options available, but connects them with more than 34,000 high-quality, in-home and facility-based care providers across the nation that best match their loved one's care needs.  To help families determine the right care solution, Years Ahead worked with the University of South Florida's Department on Aging to develop the site's state-of-the-art "Guide Me" needs assessment tool which, through a series of questions, determines where an aging loved one falls on its five-point independence scale.  Once an assessment is completed, Years Ahead provides a detailed description of the loved one's personal independence level and connects the family with local care options that cater to those specific needs.  For more information, visit www.yearsahead.com or call 877-719-3056.

About Sittercity®
Sittercity, founded in 2001, is America's largest and most trusted online solution for connecting families with high-quality, local caregivers, including babysitters, nannies, tutors, elder care providers, pet sitters, and housekeepers. With over 2 million members nationwide, Sittercity connects families with pre-screened caregivers by providing detailed profiles with photos, parent reviews, background checks, up-to-date availability, references and caregiving experience. In fact, every 30 seconds Sittercity connects a family with the local caregiver that meets its unique needs. As the Department of Defense's solution of choice, military families in all four branches (Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force) have access to Sittercity funded through an exclusive Department of Defense contract.  Many other leading employers provide Sittercity's Corporate Program as an employee benefit including UnitedHealth Group, MasterCard, Northwestern University, Avon and Children's Medical Center of Dallas.

Media Contact: 
Meghan Roman
[email protected]
312-240-3160

SOURCE Years Ahead