Aging parents may be able to live alone, but they don’t always want to. Some prefer the companionship of others, such as family members or friends. And some of them simply need the structure of living with someone else — whether it’s a spouse or another adult — to keep them on track.

Here are the signs that your aging parents can’t live alone:

• It is messy in their home.

  The signs of an unclean home are many. When you walk into an older parent’s house, you can tell something is wrong. The floor is muddy or covered with stains, and the windows and doors are so dusty they need to be cleaned before they can open. The furniture may be in disarray, and clothes may be piled up in every room of the house. When you walk into their living room, there is dust on any piece of furniture. Cobwebs are hanging from ceiling to floor. The kitchen has a baker’s rack filled with dirty dishes in the sink, and cabinets are filled with dirty dishes and other clutter like paper cups and coffee filters. The bathroom is often messy with hair being pulled out of drains or dirty toothbrushes laying around.
  If you have aging parents who live alone, it is crucial to keep your eye out for these signs so you can help them maintain their homes. When you notice any of these signs, call them right away and ask what the problem is. Perhaps they need some extra help with cleaning or organizing the house.
  Once you have done that, you can tell them how much they mean to you and how much it would mean to have them move back into your home with you. Ask if there is anything else that could be done to make their stay more comfortable for both of you.

• The state of hygiene is deteriorating

  This includes a lot of things like not bathing, not combing her/his hair, or shaving. It also includes sleeping in the same clothes for days on end. This is because as we age our skin loses its ability to stay fresh and clean and we start to smell bad and attract bugs and pests.
  It’s not that the elderly do not care about their hygiene, but it is a sign that they are no longer independent and need assistance.
  The elderly should be taught how to take care of themselves so that they can perform basic activities on their own. The caregiver should help them with bathing and dressing, but she/he must also be vigilant to ensure that they are taking proper care of their bodies. A healthy lifestyle helps reduce risk factors for disease and helps prevent serious health problems.

• They fall and are injured

  A fall is a serious injury that occurs as a result of a loss of balance or falling. Falls are the most common cause of accidents in older adults and can lead to long-term problems such as disability, hospitalization, and death.
  The most common signs of a senior citizen after having a fall/injury are:

  1. Inability to get up on their feet without help.
  2. Need help with daily tasks (cooking, bathing).
  3. Difficulty with walking and climbing stair
  4. Losing the ability to walk independently, and taking a long time to get dressed and take care of themselves.
  5. Being unable to open doors or reach things easily, such as medicine bottles, glasses by themselves, and/or having trouble reaching for items in tall kitchen cabinets.

  This is not just a physical issue but also a mental health issue.
  To care for your aging parents, you must understand that they need help sometimes. They may not want to get help, or they may be too proud to ask for it. You will have to be assertive and let them know that they need some help to remain safe and functional in their daily lives.

• Fluctuations in weight

  They may have gained a lot of weight and lost it very quickly. The other sign is that they don’t eat as much as before and they are always hungry.
  As we get older, our metabolism slows down, and we lose energy very slowly. When you have an older parent with weight fluctuations, it’s because they are not eating enough food to maintain their body weight.
  If you notice these signs in your parents, then it could be a sign that they need help living on their own. You should talk to them about it so they can come up with solutions to help them stay healthy while living on their own.
  You should also contact your parents’ doctor immediately. This is because it could be a sign of something serious and needs immediate attention.
  When your parents’ health deteriorates quickly, and they start losing weight rapidly, there’s a good chance that they are suffering from depression or some type of mental illness like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. You need to get them to help right away so that they can get better.

• No longer able to see clearly

  When a person is unable to see clearly, they may feel embarrassed and self-conscious. They may also start to feel that they are losing control of their lives.
  As the vision loss progresses, it becomes more difficult for them to drive or read. They may even have trouble getting dressed in the morning and bathing themselves. They may have trouble seeing the TV or computer screen. They may even need help reading the newspaper or even seeing their grandchildren when visiting.
  The first thing to do is to get them an eye doctor appointment as soon as possible. If they have been having trouble seeing well for a while, then it’s time to talk about it with a doctor. Several things can be done to help them regain better eyesight as well as prevent further damage.

• Taking multiple medications

  When you have aging parents, it can be challenging to know the signs that show they are suffering. If you notice them taking multiple medications and suffering from memory loss and confusion, it is significant to take steps to help them get back on their feet.

  Some signs may indicate that your parent is not taking their medication correctly:

  1. They don’t take their medications regularly or at the right time
  2. They don’t take their medications properly (for example, they mix up pills)
  3. They don’t swallow their pills properly (for example, they spit them out)
  4. They tell you that there is nothing wrong with them and that it was all in your head

  The good news is you can help your parents maintain their independence by making sure they are taking the right amount of medication and by monitoring them closely.

• An aging parent who wanders a lot

  If your parents have wandered because they have Alzheimer’s disease, there are some ways that you can help them stay safe while still allowing them freedom of movement. One way to do this is by having someone else stay home with them during the day while you go out and do things like grocery shopping or going to work. This way, if your parent gets confused as to where he or she should go next, just call the person staying home from their phone, and he or she will come to get them back home safely before anything bad happens.
  The best thing to do when a loved one needs help is to act without delay by taking them to a doctor and doing what needs to be done. Ultimately, maintaining a certain quality of life for aging parents can be a challenge. Whether they want to stay in their own homes or move into assisted living facilities, the goal is often to keep them safe and secure in their surroundings as long as possible.