Nine Signs That Your Loved One May Need Assistance

1. The house isn’t as clean as it used to be.
This may be a sign that your loved one may be very busy or that they are having a hard time keeping up with their chores. Is the clutter or
dirtiness growing worse? This could be a sign that your loved one is feeling overwhelmed or is maybe their physical health is slowing them
down?

2. Mail is piling up.
Cold be your loved one is painting the town red or perhaps the mail and bills are just too overwhelming. Maybe all they need is a reminder or maybe it’s a beginning sign of memory issues. If the bills aren’t getting paid, it could be that he/she is having problems with simple math cognition. This can be verified by offering to help go through the mail and pay any unpaid bills.

3. Checking account balance is incorrect and bills aren’t getting paid.
If the mail, with bills included, is piling up, there is a good chance that the bills are not getting paid. You may also discover amongst mail issues that your parent’s checking account ledger balance is wrong or in arrears. These are also signs that your parent is having memory issues or difficulty with simple math cognition. It can also indicate a general apathy––a mindset that can be equally problematic for someone with the glut of responsibility required to effectively live alone.

4. Weight loss.
This could be a sign of several issues. First, is your loved one depressed and lost interest in eating? Are they unable to go grocery shopping alone? Do they remember to eat (could be a sign of dementia/Alzheimer’s)? Off topic, periodically, go through the refrigerator and cabinets and make sure that there isn’t any spoiled or expired food.

5. Hygiene is lacking.
Is your loved one wearing the same clothing several days in a row or does their hair or skin appear dirty on a fairly regular basis? They may have lost the motivation or have forgotten that personal hygiene is an important part of daily living. Or perhaps they’re afraid to shower at home alone for the fear of falling – we’ve come across this with several clients.


6. Wearing inappropriate clothing.
While you may not share your mother or father’s sense of style, there is cause for concern if your parent dons summer clothing in the dead of winter or leaves the house in a nightgown and slippers for a trip to the store. This often happens when the elderly are suffering from confusion and lose the ability to have discretion in social situations. In this situation, wardrobe can be the least of the concerns as the problem manifests in other dangerous ways.

7. There are signs of forgetfulness in the home.
Confusion can also show up in the kitchen and can prove to be deadly if not dealt with quickly. We’ve all heard the stories of older people who accidentally burned their houses down because they left a pot on the stove and fell asleep or have flooded the home when they forgot to turn off the water. Other signs could be more subtle, such as putting the milk in the pantry and the cereal in the refrigerator. These are tell-tale signs that your parent may need assistance.

8. Memory issues.
Forgetfulness and memory issues may also show up when it comes to keeping certain appointments, recognizing key dates, or, even more importantly, remembering to take medications or re-taking it the same day. This is a clear sign they may need help with sticking to their schedules.

9. Depression starts to set in.
There are a number of classic signs that can be connected with someone suffering depression, such as a loss of interest in caring for one’s self or a lack of participation in social situations and interest in once-loved hobby or activity. Sometimes, depression comes from a sense of loneliness or the realization that they can no longer do things for themselves. Getting your parent involved in senior activities at a local recreation hall or senior center or having someone come in a couple times of week to visit, talk or play board games etc. can be a benefit and boost your parent’s mood.
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