Signs That Your Elderly Loved One Needs Help.
Changes in Physical Function and Mental Status
- Difficulty keeping track of time
- Sleeping for most of the day
- Poor diet or weight loss
- Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
- Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
- Difficulty getting up from a seated position
- Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
- Unexplained bruising or injuries
- Marks or wear on walls, door jams, furniture and other items being used to help with stability while walking through the home
- Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
- Forgetfulness, including forgetting to take medications or taking incorrect dosages
- Missing important appointments
- Consistent use of poor judgment (e.g. falling for scams or sales pitches, giving away money)
Poor Personal Hygiene
- Unpleasant body odor
- Not Showering or bathing
- A strong smell of urine in the house or on clothing
- Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care (e.g. unkempt hair, untrimmed nails, lack of oral care, wearing dirty or stained clothing)
Neglecting Household Responsibilities
- Inability to independently complete tasks
- Little or no fresh, healthy food in the fridge
- Dirty house and/or lots of clutter
- Dirty laundry piling up
- Stains or wet spots on furniture or carpet
- Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away
- Stacks of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
- Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
- Utilities being turned off due to missed payments
- Unsafe driving- like unexplained dents and scratches on their car
