10 Warning Signs that a Senior Needs Help at Home
- Altered his or her eating habits within the last year resulting in weight loss or gain, having no appetite, skipped meals, or hiding food?
- Neglected personal hygiene resulting in wearing dirty clothes, body odor, bad breath, neglected nails and teeth, sores on the skin?
- Neglected the home so it is not as clean or sanitary as before?
- Exhibited inappropriate behavior by being unusually loud or quiet, paranoid, agitated, making phone calls at all hours?
- Changed relationship patterns such that friends and neighbors have expressed concerns?
- Had physical problems such as accidents, burns, or injury marks resulting from general weakness, forgetfulness, or possible misuse of alcohol or prescribed medications ?
- Decreased or stopped participating in activities that were previously important such as playing cards, participating in a book club, dining with friends, or attending religious or other civic meetings?
- Exhibited forgetfulness resulting in unopened mail, piling newspapers, not filling their prescriptions, or missed appointments?
- Mishandled finances such as not paying bills, losing money, paying bills twice or more, or hiding money?
- Made unusual or more frequent purchases such as buying more than one magazine subscription of the same magazine, entering an unusual amount of contests, or increased usage of purchasing from television advertisements?
