Signs that a Loved One Needs Nelp


We all love our independence and certainly want to support our parent’s desire to live independently, too. But what if you begin to notice things that are calling into question your parent’s safety and well being? How do you know when it’s time to intervene? What are the signs to look for? Who can you turn to for help?

At Meridian At Home, we’ve developed a helpful assessment tool to help you evaluate how your loved ones are doing and if they need some extra help from a professional.

Let’s begin with Physical Health. Do they have a chronic illness such as diabetes, severe arthritis, or high blood pressure? Or do they suffer from a more serious illness such as cancer, stroke, or heart attack? Have they put on or lost a lot of weight that is unexplained? Fallen Down? Are they having trouble walking, sleeping, or driving?

Next, consider their Mental or Behaviorial Health. Are they showing signs of confusion, forgetfulness, isolation or depression? Have they been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia? Have you witnessed drastic mood swings, sadness, or loneliness?

How about Daily Living Skills? Can they dress themselves? Bathe, comb their hair, climb stairs, use the phone? Can they safely cook and prepare their meals, drive their car, go to the store, or do light housekeeping?

Make note of their Appearance and Hygiene. How would you rate their overall appearance? Are their clothes clean? Do they bathe regularly? Brush their teeth daily?

It’s very important that your loved ones take their Medications properly. Are they routinely taking their medications? How many do they take and what are they for? Are their medications being purchased at the same pharmacy so a pharmacist can look out for possible conflicts in their medications? What are the side effects?

What about their Interests and Lifestyle? Have they lost interest in their favorite hobby or stopped doing things they used to love like gardening, reading, going to church, or seeing friends? Loss of interest, isolation, and lack of energy could mean they are depressed or ill.

What about Bills and Finances? Are they keeping up with their bills? Spending their money wisely? Can they afford to pay for the things they need like food, electricity, gas, or medicine?

It’s important to know your loved ones are Safe At Home. Is the apartment or house being kept up? Can they get around in it easily and safely? Is the neighborhood safe? Are the smoke and burglar alarms working?

Finally, do they have Friends and Family Support? Do family members or friends live close enough to routinely visit and check up on them?

To learn more about our many services and how we can customize them to meet your needs, please feel free to call a Meridian At Home advisor at 1-800-894-6885 or simply click on the “Connect with Meridian At Home” button. There you can enter your contact information. One of our advisors will be happy to provide you with personal assistance in arranging care at a convenient time.

We also encourage you to take advantage of our comprehensive Caregiver Video Learning Center. These short, easy to navigate videos provide the information you need to make informed decisions about an array of services and resources involved with home health care.


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Managing a loved one's health care can be a daunting task. As a
caregiver you need to be ready to address a variety of concerns.