9 Signs Your Parent May Need Assisted Living

Here are some signs it is time to start discussing the need for assisted living:

1. Weight gain or loss. This may be due to changes in diet (as a result of loss of ability to eat, cook or shop), reduced or increased appetite, or as a result of forgetting to eat or eating too often (memory loss).
2. Body odor, bad breath, wearing dirty clothes, or other signs of neglecting hygiene. Loss of motor skills or mobility may make hygienic tasks difficult; memory loss may also be a culprit.
3. Uncharacteristically dirty, messy or unmaintained home. Again, mobility and motor skills play a large part in home maintenance and both often deteriorate as we age.
4. Falls and injuries related to mobility issues. The house may not be as accessible as it ought to be for your parent’s needs, or they may need additional help.
5. Decrease in interests and activities that are important to them, such as a hobby, social club, or physical activity. Lack of interest of social motivation may be a sign of depression, which is fairly common in senior populations, and may also be triggered by medication.
6. Reports from friends and neighbors or noticeable behavioral changes (paranoia, aggressiveness), strange or unusual behavior, inappropriate behavior, or isolation. Many behaviors are symptoms of Alzheimer’s, dementia and other diseases and disorders. And again, these behaviors may be a side effect of medication.
7. Memory loss in a situation that has a moderate to severe impact or in a way that is highly unusual, such as forgetting doctor’s appointments, taking medications daily, forgetting where they live, or forgetting important events such as a death, marriage, divorce, and other major occurrence.
8. Neglect of bills and financial obligations, or other financially risky behavior, such as paying bills twice, receiving final notices or calls from creditors, investment or participation in scams, or excessive gambling.
9. Risky driving behaviors, traffic tickets, or unexplained or frequent dents and scratches on their vehicle.