How to Assess Needs

Family members often mistakenly attribute things like forgetfulness, poor housekeeping or a messy physical appearance to "old age."

Using your senses - sight, sound, smell, taste, touch - and the checklist below, you can check for signs your loved one may need additional care or assistance.

Sight: Changes in appearance or housekeeping can be a sign seniors are being limited physically or mentally from completing normal daily tasks.

Do they get out of their nightclothes during the day?
Are they wearing clothes with food stains?
Is their hair completely combed?
Are they normally clean-shaven, but not now?
Do their teeth appear clean?
Does she continue to wear makeup?
How do their shoes look?
Is the house orderly and clean?

Sound: Listening to what seniors say and how they speak tells you about their mental status.

Smell: Your nose will tell you if your family member is bathing properly, keeping his or her home clean and eating regularly.

Does your loved one smell clean?
Does their living environment possess any unpleasant odors?
Does the refrigerator or the cupboards smell bad?
Is there an unusual amount or mail, garbage, clutter, dust or dirt?

Touch: A hug can tell you if your family member is fragile or losing weight, which could mean they are malnourished or be at great risk of injury.

Touch their skin. Is it soft, supple and the color normal?
Do they have unusual tearing or bruising of the skin?
Do they appear healthy?

Taste: Tasting seniors' food and sorting through their medications will help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking outdated or wrong medications.

Do they have fresh stocked pantry items? Check expiration dates.
How does their food taste?
Does the person appear to move around the kitchen safely?
Are there many different prescriptions? Have any medications expired?
Do they know what medications they are taking?
Do they take their medications at proper times?
Do the medications come from different doctors or pharmacies?