Aging is not always marked by sudden and noticeable changes like your hair turning white overnight or having to use a cane out of the blue. Instead, aging tends to occur quietly in the corners of our lives through small changes that we may miss unless we pay close attention.
To recognize these changes doesn’t mean to be “on watch” or bracing for the worst case scenario. This is more of an effort to develop a different literacy, one that involves recognizing the language that the body and mind may be using as they transition into a new phase.
The following are five such signs that indicate a loved one is struggling with the issues that come with aging.
Changes in Appetite or Noticeable Weight Loss
The very first change may reveal itself in the kitchen. You may see that there is less food stored in the refrigerator, or people around you say, “I’m just not really that hungry,” all too casually. This is important because nutrition gives strength to other processes that take place in the body.