Waiting for a crisis situation to happen – such as a senior who falls and has a long-term hospitalization or wanders away from home and can’t remember how to go back – is not a good idea. The decision you and the senior will have to make will be done under a great deal of stress – with little time to research the best options. Also, the housing that you and the senior would have preferred may now no longer be available.

Difficulty performing daily activities

* Wearing same clothes multiple days

* Bathing less frequently with personal hygiene suffering

* Not bothering to cook for one person, skipping meals

* Laundry and housekeeping are a burden

* Spends time in only a few rooms in the house

Memory loss

* Repeating questions or statements, multiple phone calls with the same questions

* Leaving the stove on, frequently misplacing items

Medication concerns

* Forgetting to take medications resulting in missed dosages or over dosages

* Running out of medications - or not properly ordering medications from the pharmacy

* Keeping expired medications

Lack of Socialization

* Losing touch with friends and becoming isolated

* Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed such as going to church

* Showing signs of depression such as crying or sleeping a lot

* Loss of spouse, relatives and long-time friends

Fear

* Becoming increasingly paranoid or fearful of others

* Afraid to be alone at night

* Becoming more dependent on family members

* Feeling neighborhood is not as safe as it used to be

Safety concerns

* Stairs, steps and clutter make it more likely to fall

* No help nearby if fall or emergency occurs

* Difficulty getting in and out of tub or on and off of toilet

If you have noticed some or most of the signs, it is time to consider a safer environment for your loved one.