1. 7 Signs & Symptom's That Your Loved
One May Need More Assistance !

2. Asking the Question?……...……………….….1!
!
Dealing with the Question……………….….…3!
!
Sign 1: Neglected Home...…..………………...6!
!
Sign 2: Poor Eating Habits…..……………......8 !
!
Sign 3: Neglected Hygiene…………………..10!
!
Sign 4: Depression.…………………………..12!
!
Sign 5: Forgetfulness…....…..……………….14!
!
Sign 6: Unopened Mail & Mishandled
Finances………………..………..…………….16 !
!
Sign 7: Missed Medication & Doctor’s Visits
………………………………..………….……..18!
!
Getting the Answers.…...…..………………...20!
!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

3. CHAPTER 1!
Asking The Question…!
Page 1
Most
families
eventually
have
to
deal
with
the
complicated
and
overwhelming
ques8on:
How
do
I
know
when
an
aging
rela8ve
needs
more
assistance
than
our
family
can
provide?
One
thing
is
certain
-­‐
your
parents
will
not
be
the
ones
to
tell
you
they
need
help!
Our Goal: !
To
discuss
the
signs
and
symptom's
of
seniors
at
risk
of
declining
health
and
who
are
no
longer
safe
to
live
alone.

4. All
too
oFen
families
make
arrangements
for
senior
care
only
aFer
their
loved
one
has
suffered
a
serious
incident
such
as
a
debilita8ng
fall
or
health
problems
as
a
result
of
incorrect
use
of
medica8ons.
So
the
ques8on
becomes,
what
are
the
tell-­‐tale
signs
that
a
senior
is
now
in
need
of
assistance
so
that
a
family
can
start
care
arrangements
and
prevent
their
loved
one
from
undue
suffering.
Many
aging
seniors
eventually
need
some
degree
of
help
with
daily
tasks.
These
tasks
include
bathing,
cooking,
ea8ng,
changing
clothes
and
geJng
safely
into
and
out
of
the
bathtub,
driving
to
a
doctor’s
appointment
or
just
running
daily
errands.
OFen,
as
the
aging
process
unfolds,
your
senior
may
exhibit
even
more
needs,
such
as
early
signs
of
mild
cogni8ve
impairment,
inability
to
consistently
take
medica8ons
correctly
or
even
financial
vulnerability
to
scam
ar8sts
who
target
seniors.
So,
what
are
some
of
the
common
indicators
that
your
parents
may
need
assistance
or
care?
CHAPTER 1!
Asking the Question….!
Page 2

5. Page 3
CHAPTER 2!
Dealing With the Question…
“Someone
turning
age
65
today
has
a
70%
chance
of
needing
some
type
of
long
term
care
and
services
and
support
in
their
remaining
years”
U.S.
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services

6. Page 4
CHAPTER 2!
Dealing With The Question…
What
are
some
of
the
tasks
they
may
need
assistance
with:
1. House
Cleaning
2. Cooking
Meals
3. Changing
clothes
and
geJng
safely
into
and
out
of
the
bathtub
4. Bathing
5. Companionship
6. Driving
to
a
doctor’s
appointment
7. Running
daily
errands.
So,
what
are
some
of
the
common
indicators
that
your
parents
may
need
assistance
or
care?
Here
are
some
of
the
tell
tale
signs:
1. Neglected
Home
2. Poor
Ea8ng
Habits
3. Neglected
Hygiene
4. Depression
5. Forge`ulness
6. Unopened
Mail
and
Mishandled
Finances
7. Missed
Medica8on
or
Doctor’s
Visits

7. CHAPTER 2!
Dealing With The Question…!
Page 5
It
Can
Be
Painful
Many
aging
seniors
need
some
degree
of
help
with
daily
tasks.
It’s
oFen
difficult
and
truly
heart
wrenching
to
face
the
fact
that
Mom
or
Dad
just
can’t
stay
home
alone
any
longer.
To
see
that
person,
your
mom
or
dad
who
was
your
“rock”
and
your
guiding
light
through
the
most
challenging
8mes
of
your
life
e.g.
your
first
day
of
school,
acne,
and
your
wedding
day
now
needing
you
in
a
way
that
no
one
can
prepare
for
is
just
painful.
Not
only
do
you
have
the
stress
of
the
day
to
day
with
your
own
family
and
work,
but
now
you
need
to
convince
mom
or
dad
to
make
a
change
and
begin
to
oversee
their
care.
So
the
ques8on
becomes,
what
are
the
important
signs
that
your
loved
one
is
star8ng
to
need
assistance,
and
what
kind
of
help
do
they
really
need?
To
follow
we
will
examine
in
greater
depth
the
common
signs
seniors
oFen
struggle
with
throughout
the
aging
process.

8. Page 6
CHAPTER 3!
Sign 1: Neglected Home…
Clu>ered
and
unkempt
living
areas
is
an
easy
warning
sign
to
spot.
It’s
also
dangerous
as
it
increases
the
risk
of
a
fall

9. CHAPTER 3!
Sign 1: Neglected Home…!
Page 7
A
neglected
home
is
generally
an
easy
warning
sign
to
spot
and
may
mean
the
older
adult
is
now
physically
unable
to
pick
up
around
the
house
or
their
cogni8ve
skills
have
declined
and
they
are
now
less
aware
of
their
surroundings.
Clueered
living
areas
mean
more
things
to
trip
on
and
can
lead
to
serious
fall
injuries.
Unclean
kitchens
and
bathrooms
result
in
unsanitary
condi8ons,
spreading
bacteria
throughout
the
house.
Other
physical
clues
around
your
parents’
home
may
be
a
red
flag
as
well,
such
as
the
smell
of
urine
–
indica8ng
possible
bouts
of
incon8nence,
or
scorched
pots
and
pans,
indica8ng
forge`ulness
while
cooking.

10. Page 8
CHAPTER 4!
Sign 2: Poor Eating Habits…
“It's
one
of
the
quirks
of
human
survival.
Food
shared
just
seems
to
taste
be>er
than
food
eaten
alone.
That
may
be
one
reason
many
elderly
people
who
live
alone
are
at
risk
for
malnutriJon.”
American
College
of
Nutri8on
in
Washington,
D.C.

11. CHAPTER 4!
Poor Eating Habits…!
Page 9
A
decrease
in
appe8te
is
not
unusual
for
the
elderly
as
their
metabolic
rate
naturally
slows
down
which
makes
this
a
par8cularly
difficult
warning
sign
to
spot.
A
decline
in
appe8te
becomes
a
red
flag
when
it
results
in
excessive
weight
loss,
lack
of
energy
or
dehydra8on.
One
of
the
warning
signs
of
demen8a
is
that
the
senior
will
fill
their
diet
with
mostly
sugary
snacks.
Poor
ea8ng
habits
results
in
increased
falls,
disorienta8on,
urinary
tract
infec8ons
and
generally
being
more
prone
to
illness.
Monitoring
the
weight,
cooking
and
ea8ng
habits
of
the
elderly
is
cri8cal
to
spoJng
when
its
8me
to
start
with
caregiving.
There
are
many
factors
to
consider
when
evalua8ng
the
ea8ng
habits
of
seniors
-­‐
such
as
depression,
isola8on,
oral
hygiene
and
use
of
dentures,
medica8on
side
effects
and
other
underlying
medical
condi8ons.
Iden8fying
the
cause
of
“poor
ea8ng
habits”
is
cri8cal
in
addressing
this
concern

12. Page 10
CHAPTER 5!
Sign 4: Neglected Hygiene …
Infrequent
or
inadequate
bathing
or
unclean
clothes
may
be
a
sign
of
declining
mobility,
forgeLulness
or
even
the
beginning
stages
of
demenJa.

13. CHAPTER 5!
Neglected Hygiene …!
Page 11
Like
poor
ea8ng
habits,
neglected
hygiene
can
show
up
in
a
number
of
ways
with
a
mul8tude
of
causes.
Body
odor,
neglected
fingernails
and/or
teeth
are
easily
no8ceable
warning
signs
showing
that
your
senior
needs
aeen8on.
This
could
be
due
to
your
aging
parent
not
being
able
to
safely
get
into
the
shower
or
bath.
Do
a
physical
assessment
of
the
bathroom;
consider
placing
grab
bars,
or
geJng
a
raised
toilet
seat.
Also,
check
to
see
if
the
laundry
is
geJng
done.
OFen,
you
may
see
aging
parents
wearing
the
same
clothes
for
several
days
in
a
row.
This
could
be
an
indicator
of
forge`ulness
or
simply
a
sign
that
it
is
too
difficult
for
the
older
adult
to
load
and
unload
clothes
from
the
washing
machine
and
dryer.
Forge`ulness
is
one
of
the
many
early
signs
of
demen8a,
and
poor
hygiene
could
also
be
an
indica8on
that
depression
from
isola8on
could
be
a
concern.

14. Page 12
CHAPTER 6!
Sign 4: Depression…
“Depression
affects
more
than
6.5
million
of
the
35
million
Americans
aged
65
years
or
older.
Depression
in
older
persons
is
closely
associated
with
dependency
and
disability
and
causes
great
suffering
for
the
individual
and
the
family.”
Na8onal
Alliance
on
Mental
Health

15. CHAPTER 6!
Depression…!
Page 13
If
your
parent
is
depressed,
you
may
observe
unusual
behavior,
or
a
general
change
in
their
normal
demeanor.
Symptoms
include:
lack
of
drive
or
mo8va8on,
failure
to
return
phone
calls,
or
they
just
don’t
“seem
like
themselves”.
Changes
in
ordinary
rou8nes
such
as
gardening
or
mee8ng
with
the
“bridge
club”
or
just
a
general
social
withdrawal
are
also
signs
of
depression
and
an
indicator
that
assistance
may
be
needed.
Many
families
think
depression
is
a
natural
reac8on
to
chronic
illness,
loss
and
social
transi8on
and
a
normal
part
of
aging.
It’s
impossible
to
ignore
that
the
elderly
face
remarkable
challenges
compared
to
any
other
stage
in
life.
OFen
living
in
isola8on
aFer
losing
a
spouse
or
out
living
their
friends,
siblings
and
some8mes
their
own
children.
It
is
important
to
get
help,
depression
decreases
the
quality
of
life,
and
many
8mes
can
be
successfully
treated.

16. Page 14
CHAPTER 7!
Sign 5: Forgetfulness…
“ForgeLulness
can
be
a
normal
part
of
aging.
As
people
get
older,
changes
occur
in
all
parts
of
the
body,
including
the
brain.”
Na8onal
Ins8tute
on
Aging

17. CHAPTER 7!
Forgetfulness…!
Page 15
You
may
no8ce
one
or
more
of
the
following
warning
signs
indica8ng
cogni8ve
impairment;
forge`ulness
can
oFen
be
the
early
sign
of
developing
demen8a
or
Alzheimer’s
or
some
other
type
of
memory
impairment.
• Consistent
memory
lapses
• Confusion
• Repe88ve
speech
• Loss
of
ini8a8ve
• Difficulty
performing
familiar
tasks
• Frequently
misplacing
things
• GeJng
lost
walking
or
driving
• Unable
to
complete
a
sentence
• Rapid
mood
swings
or
changes
in
behavior
• Changes
in
personality
• Cannot
recall
names
of
familiar
people
or
objects

18. Page 16
CHAPTER 8!
Sign 6: Unopened Mail and !
Mishandled Finances…
A
more
difficult
sign
to
spot
and
a
potenJally
serious
issue
for
your
senior
is
neglected
financial
ma>ers.

19. CHAPTER 8!
Unopened Mail and Mishandled
Finances…!
Page 17
Look
for
unopened
mail,
unpaid
bills,
payments
made
to
fraud
schemes,
bounced
checks,
or
inability
to
balance
a
checkbook.
In
the
early
stages
of
demen8a
a
senior
will
start
to
feel
easily
overwhelmed
by
the
contents
of
their
mail
and
will
even
lose
the
ability
to
do
simple
arithme8c.
As
their
ability
for
logical
thinking
declines
they
become
much
less
capable
of
assessing
risk
and
become
vulnerable
to
financial
scams.
OFen
an
early
sign
of
this
is
excessive
par8cipa8on
in
“sweepstakes”
types
of
mail
campaigns.

20. Page 18
CHAPTER 9!
Sign 7: Missed Medications or
Doctor Visits…
Drug
misuse
(and
abuse)
in
the
elderly
can
cause
cogniJve
and
physical
impairment—
puVng
this
populaJon
at
greater
risk
for
falls,
motor
vehicle
accidents,
making
them
generally
less
able
to
care
for
their
daily
needs

21. CHAPTER 9!
Missed Medications or Doctor
Visits…!
Page 19
A
more
sure
way
is
to
monitor
the
quan8ty
of
medica8ons
on
hand
to
determine
if
too
few
(or
too
many)
pills
are
being
consumed.
Have
a
periodic
mee8ng
with
the
doctors
involved
to
see
if
appointments
are
being
kept
and
to
review
the
medica8ons
your
loved
one
is
taking.
This
is
also
helpful
to
determine
what
are
the
sign
and
symptoms
that
a
par8cular
medica8on
is
not
being
properly
taken.
Many
of
the
symptoms
of
misuse
(and
abuse)
mirror
common
signs
of
aging
in
general.
These
symptoms
may
obscure
diagnosing
a
substance
misuse
problem.
Some
of
these
percep8ons
include:
•
Memory
loss
•
Disorienta8on
•
Lack
of
balance
•
Shaky
hands
•
Mood
swings
•
Depression
•
Chronic
boredom

22. If
your
senior
is
exhibi8ng
any
of
the
signs
or
symptoms
men8oned
in
this
booklet,
call
us
to
schedule
a
free
assessment
of
their
needs.
We
can
show
you
what
your
care
op8ons
are
and
help
you
find
ways
to
make
it
affordable.
1
800
720
4608
GETTING
THE
ANSWERS
Request
A
Free
ConsultaJon