It is common for seniors to fiercely protect their independence. Accepting help when it is needed is not easy for older adults, especially since they prize a lifetime of self-sufficiency. Families must engage in some detective work to determine when an elderly loved one needs help at home.

Aging people, as any age group, intend to remain in control of their lives for as long as possible. Consequently, seniors will downplay any decline in physical or cognitive capabilities. A sudden accident or illness, however, will shed light on the fact that these individuals require extra support.

Families are urged to monitor their elderly loved ones’ physical and mental conditions (in-person, if possible). Encourage the seniors to prepare legal and financial documents. Research at-home care options, too, in order to prevent being caught off guard when illness or injury strike.

Sign 1: Changes in Appearance

Physical appearance is telling. A change in personal hygiene habits reveals a possible shift in physical abilities. Neglecting to bathe, for instance, can lead to offensive body odor. Concerned family members should question whether the senior is too frail to independently perform hygiene tasks.

A senior with early onset dementia may choose inappropriate clothing. In subfreezing winter temperatures, older adults with cognitive impairment may neglect to wear a coat and hat. Similarly, regularly wearing dirty or disheveled clothing is a sign that the senior needs help at home.

Unexplained weight loss may occur when the aging individual has difficulty shopping for food and cooking meals. When Alzheimer’s disease strikes, seniors can forget how to use the stove. Eating becomes challenging for older adults who experience a decline in physiological functions.

Changes in mobility and repeated falls will result in bruises and wounds on the senior’s body. Family members might also notice burns on the senior’s skin, which can be the outcome of improper use of the stove. Visible cues, like the aforementioned, are warnings that extra support is necessary.

Sign 2: Shifts in Personality or Behavior

An elderly person’s personality may noticeably alter. The senior may respond in uncharacteristic ways, such as aggressively, to family, friends, and others. Extreme mood swings, loneliness, and depression can set in when the senior becomes frustrated with the changes to their aging bodies and lifestyle.

Extreme emotions, such as irritability and paranoia, can be early signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A loss of motivation and interest in hobbies reveals an adverse shift in the senior’s mental status. Sleeping all day or not at all (insomnia) is unhealthy and indicative of the need for support.

Sign 3: Decline in Cognitive Abilities

Memory loss can cause a senior to forget to take prescription medications in the right dosages. Family members may notice full medicine bottles in the senior’s cabinet. Frequently missing doctors’ appointments, too, is an important sign that changes to memory have taken place.

Extra help at home is warranted when the senior becomes increasingly confused, loses the ability to reason, and consistently fails to use good judgment. The latter, for instance, may lead to the senior becoming prey to financial scams or giving away large sums of money.

Families should be alert when the senior displays signs of cognitive decline. Speech patterns may become repetitive; the senior may fail to complete sentences or no longer have the ability to find the correct words to convey a message. The individual may also get lost in familiar places.

Sign 4: Neglect of Home Maintenance

As we age, we may no longer be capable of performing regular housekeeping and house maintenance routines. In addition, if confusion has set in, a senior may no longer recall how to complete daily chores, such as vacuuming or washing dishes. Difficulty performing familiar household tasks will be obvious when family members visit the senior’s unkempt home. The yard may be overgrown, and the trash may be piled up.

Hoarding and extreme clutter are signs that the senior is no longer able to maintain a clean home. Visiting families may find stacks of unopened mail, collection notices, or even that the utilities have been shut off—indications that the senior has failed to pay the bills.

Families who open the refrigerator, only to find it filled with expired or spoiled food, should be concerned. Seniors who need extra help will have a low stockpile of fresh produce and overall food supply. Aging adults might, as a result, resort to mainly consuming unhealthy prepackaged snacks.

The abovementioned signs should prompt families to seek in-home assistance for their elderly loved one. Seniors who are no longer able to independently perform the activities of daily living will unnecessarily struggle. Furthermore, the health and safety of these individuals are at stake.

Families have options when it comes to providing for an elderly loved one who can no longer function independently in a home environment. Caregivers from Assisting Hands Home Care offer seniors of all physical and cognitive abilities the opportunity to safely age in the comfort of home.

As a reputable home care agency, we provide compassionate care to senior citizens and adults with disabilities from Jupiter to Boynton Beach, including Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington FL and the surrounding areas. Typical caregiver responsibilities include discreet assistance with personal hygiene tasks, like bathing, grooming and toileting. Our caregivers prepare nutritious meals and prevent both dehydration and weight loss.

We are also excellent companions. Professional caregivers build strong bonds with seniors by initiating conversations, playing board games, or joining them in recreational pursuits. Our companion care services deter loneliness and social isolation and improve the senior’s overall emotional well-being.

Assisting Hands Home Care professionals tidy up the home with reliable housekeeping services. Your elderly loved one’s home will remain free of clutter, which is a fall hazard. We also provide timely medication reminders and help with personal mobility, such as transferring to and from a bed.

Families with seniors living in North and Central Palm Beach County, Florida, are urged to consult Assisting Hands Home Care when their loved ones show signs of self-neglect. We will conduct an in-home consultation, develop a customized care plan, and ensure the senior enjoys a high quality of life.