Ensuring that the needs of our loved ones are met is one of the biggest responsibilities we face as they age. Although we would like our elderly parents to remain independent for as long as possible, there may come a time when they can no longer take care of themselves. It is important to start proper legal/financial planning and research long-term care options ahead of time, before any significant changes in their physical and mental abilities occur. It is crucial that you are prepared to provide them with the necessary support when they start to show signs of needed assistance.

Signs a Senior Needs Help at Home

These are typical signs that an elderly person may require home assistance or a higher level of care: 

• Difficulty Performing Activities of Daily Living 

1. 1. 1. Bathing and grooming
      2. Dressing
      3. Toileting
      4. Continence
      5. Walking and transferring (e.g., moving from the bed to a chair)
      6. Eating

• Changes in Physical Function & Appearance

1. 1. 1. Significant weight loss due to poor diet, difficulty cooking, eating, shopping for food, etc. 
      2. Difficulties with dressing appropriately (e.g. wearing soiled clothing, dressing for the wrong season)
      3. Poor personal hygiene and unpleasant body odor due to infrequent showering
      4. Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care
      5. Marks on the body indicating falls or changes in mobility (e.g. bruises, wounds, etc.)
      6. Burns on the skin which could indicate difficulties with cooking

• Changes in Behavior & Mental Status

1. 1. 1. Lack of motivation or drive
      2. Loss of enthusiasm for hobbies and pastimes
      3. Trouble with keeping track of time
      4. Failure to return calls to friends and family members
      5. Mood shifts or strong mood swings
      6. Increased agitation
      7. Abuse of power, whether verbally or physically
      8. Changes in sleeping habits (e.g., insomnia or sleeping all day)

• Neglecting Household Responsibilities

1. 1. 1. Inability to independently complete instrumental ADLs (activities of daily life)
      2. Changes in household cleanliness and organization
      3. Extreme clutter or hoarding
      4. Stacks of unopened mail, late payment notices, or bounced checks
      5. Unpaid bills, calls from collectors, or utilities being turned off
      6. Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away
      7. Little or no fresh, healthy food or overall low food supply
      8. Stained or wet furniture 
      9. Urine odor in the house, which may indicate incontinence
      10. Cookware or appliances with noticeable burn marks could indicate food has been left unattended while cooking or reheating
      11. Failure to maintain outdoor areas, such as landscaping, snow removal or garbage collection
      12. Signs of unsafe driving (e.g., automobile dents and scratches)
      13. Unfilled prescriptions

• Changes in Cognition, Memory, or Judgment 

1. 1. Forgetfulness (e.g., forgetting to take medications or taking incorrect dosages, missing appointments, misplacing items)
   2. Increased confusion
   3. Loss of reasoning skills
   4. Consistent use of poor judgment (e.g., falling for scams or sales pitches, giving away money)
   5. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
   6. Frequently getting lost when walking or driving
   7. Repetitive speech patterns
   8. Inability to complete sentences
   9. Impaired word-finding ability
   10. Changes in personality or behavior
   11. Poor personal hygiene 
   12. Inability to recall names of familiar people or objects

If you suspect your parents are displaying any of the warning symptoms listed above, the next step is to talk to them about their changing skills and care requirements. It may be a sensitive topic and lead to rising tension. However, it is extremely importantIt's ideal to talk about the future with elderly parents as soon as possible so that everyone is on the same page and no surprises arise.

Keep in mind that these warning signs do not always indicate that a relocation to assisted living or a nursing home is necessary. Their presence, on the other hand, indicates that daily supportive care is required. Hiring home care allows many families to keep their elderly loved ones in their homes for as long as they can safely do so.

If you need further legal assistance with elder care planning, please contact the Law Office of Inna Fershteyn at (718) 333-2395 to best prepare your legal documents for the future.