How to tell when a Senior needs Care and Assistance

• Sometimes’ it is easy to know when a family member needs care and assistance. • For instance, maybe he or she has a major disability or requires additional help following a hospital stay. • In other cases, however, it is not immediately obvious that your senior is in need of help with the activities of daily life.

Questions to consider when determining your loved ones living status

As people who had to wrestle with our own family decisions, we thought it useful to provide early guidance, so other families might know when a more careful assessment of their seniors needs is required.

Here is a list of questions to consider when determining if a loved one is in need of additional care:

1. Appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing normal daily tasks.2. Are they wearing dirty or stained clothing?3. Have they brushed their teeth?

Pay Attention to how they look:

1. Listening to how seniors speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status. Do not assume that “old age” is causing these problems.2. Have they forgotten to refill prescriptions or take their medicine?3. Have they missed doctor’s appointments?

Listen to the senior

1. Looking at their food and medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or even worse, taking expired medicine.2. Do they have fresh and stocked pantry items?3. Are there piles of unopened bills?

View the Seniors Surrounding

1. Using your nose as an indicator can help you determine if your family member is bathing properly or participating in otherwise normal activities.2. Does their living environment possess any unpleasant odors?3. Are they bathing regularly?

Use your Nose

As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive you will not only provide safety for your family member, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.

If you sense a problem based on the above indicators, you and other family members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps.

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