One of the greatest concerns of adult children is the safety and well-being of their aging parents. As people age, they slow down mentally and physically. They do not always realize they need help. When their adult children live far away and cannot check in on them regularly, the little signs and symptoms of forgetfulness and the inability to care for themselves may go unnoticed. Frequent telephone conversations may yield a few clues, but a visit in person could likely reveal startling signs that seniors need assistance from a home care agency or may need to move into another living situation, such as an assisted living facility, a senior community or the adult child’s home. There are several clues to be seen in person that seniors living alone need supervision or medical care to live a happier, healthier, safer lifestyle.

• Mobility – Difficulties in walking are more noticeable outside the home. Walking across a parking lot, for example, may highlight an unsteady gait that could lead to falls. Steps may be difficult to negotiate, so moving to a home on one floor or the bottom floor may make more sense.

• Personal Hygiene – Dirty clothes, unwashed hair and a very dry toothbrush are signs that personal cleanliness may be neglected. Sometimes seniors forget about daily hygiene routines and need to be assisted or reminded to bathe, brush their teeth or comb their hair.

• Weight Loss – Nutrition is a key to good health. Unnecessary or unintentional weight loss is one sign of poor nutrition. If there is little food in the cabinets and refrigerator, this is probably a sign that the senior parent is not eating well. Cooking may be difficult, or they may forget to eat altogether. They might need help with preparation of light meals or cannot get to the grocery store if they are unable to drive.

• Injuries or Bruising – Look for bruises or evidence of scrapes. Ask about broken bones or hospital visits. When people fall, they tend to put out their hands or arms on instinct for protection. The most obvious evidence of a safety problem can be found on the hands, arms and face with bruises and bumps.

• Cluttered Household – Look for laundry, dirty dishes and mail piled up around the house. Household chores may be difficult to keep up with, or they may be forgotten altogether. Consider a service that alerts a family member if bills have not been paid. This clue may be a symptom of a larger problem.

The presence of any or all of these signs that seniors need help may be cause for worry. One unsettling thought is that a parent could fall and hurt themselves. Even more concerning is the idea that no one would be there to help them up or call for medical attention if needed. There may be unknown physical and mental needs that can be addressed simply by having an elder companion service to help with transportation, light cooking and meal planning. More advanced care is also available with home medical staffing. In some cases, the senior may need to go into a specialized facility or perhaps move in with an adult child or other family member.