Warnings Signs: When an older adult needs help

Maybe you are sensing a change in an older adult dear to you, but you're not sure what to do or if more help is required. The following behaviors may indicate that additional services or assistance are needed.

• Changed eating habits within the last year resulting in weight loss, having no appetite, or missed meals.

• Neglected personal hygiene resulting in wearing dirty clothes, body odor, bad breath, neglected nails and teeth, sores on the skin.

• Neglected their home so it is not as clean or sanitary as usual.

• 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 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 to them such as bridge or a book club, dining with friends, or attending religious services.

• 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 purchases such as buying more than one magazine subscription of the same magazine, entered an unusual amount of contests, increased usage of purchasing from television advertisements.

Keystone Care Consultants assists families in assessing needs and connecting older adults with qualified services. We welcome your call to discuss your situation. Call Kathy at 651-797-7712 or email mailto:kalbrecht@keystoneservices.org.  For more senior care tips, click here.