How do I know when my aging loved one needs assistance?

HERE ARE SOME POSSIBLE WARNING SIGNS:

PHYSICAL

♥  Difficulty walking

♥  Frequently falling or unsteadiness (presence of bruising)

♥  Poor hygiene or grooming (wearing stained clothes, body odor, infrequent bathing or washing hair, wearing the same clothes day after day)

♥  Changes in eating habits (snacks only, decreased appetite, eating one meal a day, forgetting to eat, poor food choices, lack of food in the home)

♥  Incontinence

♥  Unsafe home environment (unclean,  cluttered walkways, poor lighting, home needing repairs, broken or missing smoke detectors, lack of security-leaving doors unlocked, leaving stove on)

♥  Significant weight loss or gain

♥  Chronic pain

♥   Substance abuse

♥  Desire for alternative living arrangements

FINANCIAL

♥  Unpaid and past due bills (especially home insurance, utilities, home mortgage)

♥  Unopened mail

♥ Unable to manage checkbook

♥  Unable to deal with money properly

♥  Victimized by scams or financial abuse

♥   Inability to pay for long-term care or health care

COGNITIVE

♥   Poor or decreased judgment

♥   Difficulty coordinating or monitoring different medications

♥  Paranoia and forgetfulness

♥  Wanders off and can’t find their way back home

♥  Leaving stove on, unplugging refrigerator

♥  Little or no recognition of friends or family members

♥  Forgetting to take medications, or taking it improperly

♥  Increasingly forgetful (missed doctor's appointments, family events, forgetting names, word

finding difficulties, frequently losing things or placing things in unusual places)

♥   Frequent repetition, physical/verbal abuse

♥   Delusions or hallucinations (perception of objects or events that others don’t see, holding false beliefs)

♥   Calling children repeatedly at inappropriate hours of day or night

SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL

♥  Isolation

♥  Mood changes  (anger, suspicion, paranoia, agitated)

♥  Depression or loneliness   (crying, sadness, lack of energy, increase or decrease in sleeping and/or appetite, feeling hopeless)

♥  Lack of interest in formerly enjoyable activities (isolating, stopped participating in social, church or volunteer activities)?