When Is It Time to Discuss Additional Care

The following are signs that it is time to discuss additional in-home care, assisted living or long term care for a senior:

Isolation/Depression

• Is your loved one isolated from social contact?
• Are his or her sleeping habits, eating habits or activity levels changing?

Daily Activites/Eating Habits

• Is your loved one having a difficult time walking, dressing or eating?

Bruises/Falls

• Has there been an increased susceptibility to falling and bruising?

Cognitive Ability

• Is your loved one's mental reasoning ability at a level where his or her personal safety and the safety of others is at risk?

Increasing Medical Needs

• Does your loved one need medical care that you or he or she cannot provide?
• Does your loved one's medication need to be increased?
• Does he or she need more and more help taking medications?
• Does he or she use medical equipment like an oxygen tank or need daily or weekly treatments like dialysis?
• Is your loved one in need of rehabilitative care?

Caregiver Burnout

• Is a family caregiver exhausted due to the amount of care your loved one needs?

Medication Errors/Missed Doctor's Appointments

• Is your loved one mixing up medications, taking them incorrectly or not taking them at all?
• Is your loved one keeping his or her doctor's appointments?

Household Management

• Can your loved one still manage the components of running a household, such as keeping a checkbook or paying bills?
• Is there a dramatic change in how the house is kept? A

American Healthcare Association

Also see When is Someone No Longer Safe Living Alone checklist

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