By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    email marketing in healthcare
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    healthcare claims
    The Role of Communication in Resolving Complex Workers’ Compensation Claims in Healthcare Settings
    September 22, 2024
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    February 12, 2025
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Should Your Elderly Parent Be Living Alone? 6 Signs That They Need More Help
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Senior Care > Should Your Elderly Parent Be Living Alone? 6 Signs That They Need More Help
Senior Care

Should Your Elderly Parent Be Living Alone? 6 Signs That They Need More Help

Diana Hope
Last updated: December 12, 2021 8:39 pm
Diana Hope
Share
4 Min Read
elderly parents
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - By wavebreakmedia | stock photo ID: 286005233
SHARE

Everyone ages differently. As we get older (and often much earlier than we’d like) we start to face physical challenges and new demands on our bodies. Unfortunately, there’s no playbook for these. Some 70-year-olds are as fit as they were in their 40s (sometimes, even fitter) while some 50-year-olds struggle with basic tasks. These differences can make it hard to know what’s best for our older relatives. It’s hard to know when they should no longer live alone or when they need more support. There are, however, some obvious warning signs that you should look out for.

Contents
A Decline in Personal HygieneA Lack of Social LifeForgetfulnessAn Increasingly Messy HomeFrequent Falls and InjuriesWeight LossLow Mood

A Decline in Personal Hygiene

One of the first, and most obvious signs that your parents are struggling to take care of themselves is a decline in hygiene. They may stop taking care of themselves or taking as much pride in their appearance. They might start to look unkempt or even smell bad.

The good news is this isn’t always a sign of severe cognitive decline. Sometimes, it’s less a sign of memory problems and cognitive issues, and more a case of them not being able to physically get in and out of the bath and being too embarrassed to ask for help. Communities like McKnight Place offer a range of senior care options, to make sure that your parents get the support that they need when they are ready to move out of their homes.

A Lack of Social Life

Loneliness is one of the most common issues as we get older. If your parent is spending more and more time alone, it’s bad for their mental health, but it also puts a lot of pressure on you and your family. A move to assisted living can be the ideal solution.

More Read

The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
7 Technological Innovations For People Living With Dementia
What Is the Most Common Cause of Elder Abuse?
How To Keep Your Elderly Family Connected During This Time
Are They Struggling or Thriving? Signs for Aging Loved Ones

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness is another common sign that they might be struggling to live alone. If they are forgetting small things like names and dates, you will naturally start to worry about other things they might forget, like keeping appointments and taking medication.

An Increasingly Messy Home

It’s common to be a little messy sometimes, especially when we live alone, but if things are piling up, plates aren’t washed, dust is abundant and the post isn’t being opened, it might be time to worry.

Frequent Falls and Injuries

We all trip once in a while, but as we get older, we can struggle with both mobility and balance. If your loved one is falling often, or these falls are becoming more serious and lead to injuries, they might need more help with things like getting dressed.

Weight Loss

Weight loss can be a sign that your parent isn’t feeding themselves properly, is struggling to stand for long enough to cook, or is forgetting to eat entirely.

Low Mood

One of the most common signs that it’s time to make a change is quite simply that your parent is unhappy and regularly struggling with a low mood.

Not being able to live at home alone anymore isn’t the beginning of the end. In fact, many seniors that move into assisted or independent living communities go on to have a much happier, healthier, and longer life than they would living alone. For many, it’s the start of something new and exciting, and certainly not an end.

TAGGED:elderly parentssenior care
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Health careTechnology

5 Benefits Of Telemedicine For Seniors To Know About

November 2, 2018
Senior Living community
Senior Care

How to Choose the Best Senior Living Community for You

May 16, 2023
Senior Care

4 Benefits of Hiring a Caregiver as a Senior Citizen

June 27, 2020
Health careSenior Care

Ways to Reduce Healthcare Costs for Seniors

October 23, 2020
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?