A Place for Mom® Survey Explores Family Visits For The Holidays, Finds 43 Percent Of U.S. Adults Who Plan To Visit Parents/In-Laws Intend To Discuss Issues Related To Health And Aging With Them

SEATTLE, Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- According to an online Harris Interactive survey commissioned by A Place for Mom, Inc. (APFM), the nation's largest senior living referral service, 43 percent of adult children who will visit their parents or in-laws this holiday season are planning to discuss issues such as health, finances, housing, mobility and memory loss.

The survey, which polled 2,033 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, was commissioned by APFM after observing a noticeable uptick in senior housing inquiries immediately following the holidays, lasting well into the new year.  

"While the holidays are primarily a time for celebration, we find that when families reunite – many of whom are spread throughout the country – changes in mom and dad become evident and issues related to their health and aging become the forefront of conversation," said Jennifer Mellet, Senior Vice President of Senior Living Advising for A Place for Mom. "This often leads to inquiries about senior care options soon after the holidays. We find it is a complex time for families, so we take steps to ensure that our Advisors are equipped to counsel families through the logistical and emotional components of the senior living search process."

When asked what specific topics they plan to address with parents, 26 percent of those who plan to visit them for the holidays cited medical/health, 19 percent cited finances, 12 percent cited housing, 10 percent cited mobility and 5 percent cited memory loss. When applied to their in-laws, 18 percent plan to address health, 10 percent finances, 9 percent housing, 5 percent mobility and 3 percent memory loss.  

Assessing Health and Safety

In anticipation of holiday visits, A Place for Mom encourages families to utilize their time together to take stock of an aging relative's situation and start planning for their long term care. To help families, the company has developed the "Senior Safety & Well-Being Checklist," which includes 56 questions across a wide variety of categories and is available on the APFM Senior Living Blog.  

According to Jennifer Mellet, there are several tell-tale signs to look for when home for the holidays:

• Food, nutrition and kitchen safety. Has your loved one recently lost a lot of weight? Is there enough food at home? Check to make sure it is not expired or spoiled.
• Communication and cognitive function. Is your loved one showing any signs of short term memory loss beyond what would be considered normal? Does your loved one recognize family and friends?
• Medications and health status. Are medications being taken properly? Has your loved one been to the doctor in the last year? Are special medical issues being monitored and managed effectively?
• Mobility. Does your loved one get around as well as when you saw him or her last? Are there signs of a recent fall, such as bruising?
• House and Home. Is the house reasonably clean and tidy? Are your loved ones' pets doing well and being sufficiently cared for?
• Bathroom Safety. Is your loved one able to transfer into the bathroom or shower safely? Does the bath or shower have a non-slip mat or strips?
• Security. Is your loved one mindful of alarms and able to exit in an emergency? Is your loved one aware of scam threats and know not to disclose personal information on the phone or to strangers?

About A Place for Mom
A Place for Mom, Inc. (APFM) is the nation's largest senior living referral service providing resources and personalized assistance in finding senior living services. Using its nationwide network of more than 18,000 providers, APFM helps families find options based on a loved one's stated needs, preferences and budget. This may include independent senior housing, home care, residential care homes, assisted living communities and specialized Alzheimer's memory care. The service is offered at no charge to families as providers pay a fee to APFM. For more information, visit www.aplaceformom.com, call 1-877-311-6099 or visit one of APFM's social networks at Twitter, Facebook, Google +, Senior Living Blog and Pinterest. 

Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of A Place For Mom from November 22-26 2013 among 2,033 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact [email protected].

SOURCE A Place for Mom

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