Eventually, almost all older adults need some form of assistance. As your older loved ones age, the following are some warning signs to look for that it might be time to give them assistance, or find someone who can assist them. If you need assistance with finding care near your older loved one, go to www.AgingPro.com and search the National Eldercare Directory of professionals in aging.

PHYSICAL
1. Difficulty walking
2. Frequently falling or unsteadiness (presence of bruising)
3. Poor hygiene or grooming (wearing stained clothes, body odor, infrequent bathing or washing hair, wearing the same clothes day after day)
4 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)
5. Incontinence
6. 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)
7. Significant weight loss or gain
8. Chronic pain
9. Substance abuse
10. Desire for alternative living arrangements

FINANCIAL
11. Unpaid and past due bills (especially home insurance, utilities, home mortgage)
12. Unopened mail
13. Unable to manage checkbook
14. Unable to deal with money properly
15. Victimized by scams or financial abuse
16. Inability to pay for long-term care or health care
COGNITIVE
17. Poor or decreased judgment
18. Difficulty coordinating or monitoring different medications
19. Paranoia and forgetfulness
20. Wanders off and can’t find their way back home
21. Leaving stove on, unplugging refrigerator
22. Little or no recognition of friends or family members
23. Forgetting to take medications, or taking it improperly
24. Increasingly forgetful (missed doctor's appointments, family events, forgetting names, wordfinding difficulties, frequently losing things or placing things in unusual places)
25. Frequent repetition, physical/verbal abuse
26. Delusions or hallucinations (perception of objects or events that others don’t see, holding false beliefs)
27. Calling children repeatedly at inappropriate hours of day or night

SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL
28. Isolation
29. Mood changes (anger, suspicion, paranoia, agitated)
30. Depression or loneliness (crying, sadness, lack of energy, increase or decrease in sleeping and/or appetite, feeling hopeless)
31. Lack of interest in formerly enjoyable activities (isolating, stopped participating in social, church or volunteer activities)?

For more information on warning signs or other eldercare issues, go to www.AgingPro.com.