The top 10 signs

1. The yard and house lack upkeep.
2. The inside of the house becomes uncharacteristically cluttered, disorganized or dirty.

3. There’s a stack of unpaid bills.
4. They appear disheveled; for example, their clothes are unclean, or their hygiene has declined.

5. There is hardly any food in the house.
6. There has been a change in their general mood, or they’ve lost interest in hobbies and activities.

7. They forget to take their medications or get prescriptions filled.

8. They have unexplained bruising, which could indicate they’ve been falling.

9. They have become more forgetful, perhaps missing essential appointments.

10. They have noticeably gained or lost weight.  How do I break the ice?

It’s usually best to make the conversation at least a two-stage process, with the first stage a break-theice dialogue just to get the lines of communication going between you and your parents. To improve communication and better understand your parents’ point of view, keep in mind:

• One of the most threatening things to a senior who has been proud to live on his or her own is the possibility of leaving home and losing independence.
• What seniors typically don’t know is that there are non-medical home care services to assist them with activities of daily living (for example, light housekeeping, transportation, bathing and grooming) that will enable them to remain living in their home safely and independently.
• A parent may be in denial and refuse to admit they need help. This will create additional challenges.