10 Signs Your Elderly Parent Needs Help

1. Poor Personal Hygiene

One of the most common signs of decline in an elderly parent is trouble keeping up with everyday hygiene practices like showering. In many cases, decreased mobility or a fear of falling in the shower plays a role. Or your loved one may be experiencing cognitive decline, which may cause them to forget steps in their routine altogether.

Signs of neglected hygiene in an elderly parent may include:

• Body odor, especially the smell of urine, which could indicate incontinence
• Poor oral health (like bad breath, visible plaque, etc.)
• Wearing the same clothes
• Piles of dirty clothes in the house
• Unkempt appearance (dirty or overgrown nails, greasy or tangled hair)

2. Neglected Chores

An overly cluttered home can be one of the clearest signs your elderly parent needs help. While a little clutter is normal in every household, noticeable changes in your loved one’s space may point to something more serious like declining mobility, memory issues, or mental health concerns like depression.

Watch for these signs of neglect in your elderly parent’s home:

• Piles of unopened mail
• Persistent bad odors in the house
• Overly cluttered countertops and floors
• Spoiled or expired food in the fridge or pantry
• Stained floors or furniture

Stains and clutter may signal that your loved one isn’t able to bend down to clean a spill or they may not notice the mess at all. If these issues seem familiar, it may signal the need for extra support at home.

3. Poor Nutrition or Changes in Eating Habits

Struggling with proper nutrition is one of the most overlooked signs of decline in elderly adults. If your loved one is skipping meals or losing interest in food, it could point to depression, forgetfulness, or difficulty with grocery shopping and meal preparation. 

Look for these signs to see if your loved one is struggling with healthy meals and proper senior nutrition:

• Trouble chewing or swallowing
• Unexplained or sudden changes in weight
• Empty cupboards, sparse fridge, or expired food
• Pushing food around on the plate without eating
• Inability to cook a simple meal

4. Mismanaged Medications

Improper medication management is one of the most critical signs a senior needs help at home—and one of the hardest for families to monitor. Many older adults consistently take multiple prescriptions a day. In fact, about 20% of seniors take five or more prescriptions, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This is known as polypharmacy, and when medications aren’t taken correctly, the risks can be serious. 

Common polypharmacy symptoms include: 

• Cognitive problems
• Weakness or dizziness
• Gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Loss of appetite
• Confusion and reduced alertness

When visiting your loved one’s home, look for these signs that your parent needs help managing their medications:

• Expired medications in cabinets
• Multiple bottles of the same medication filled on different dates (may indicate refills without proper use)
• Scattered pills on the floor or countertop
• Bottles of the same medication with different doses (could indicate incorrect dosing)
• Spending an entire day with your loved one without them taking any prescribed medications

Medication errors can lead to serious health complications so if you notice any of these signs, maybe try a new solution—like using organized pill containers or automated reminders. Nowadays, there are smart medication dispensers that can dispense or unlock medications at a set time, play a sound, and flash a light. If that doesn’t help, it might be time to seek care services that provide medication management.

5. Increased Forgetfulness or Confusion

If your loved one seems more confused, agitated, or forgets things more easily than before, they may need help to take care of themselves. Unfortunately, these signs can indicate cognitive decline or even the early stages of dementia. However, confusion can also stem from other health conditions. In any case, it’s important to have your loved one evaluated by a doctor because these changes are often among the signs of a parent who needs help.

The early signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia may include the following, according to the Alzheimer’s Association:

• Forgetting recent events or new information
• Difficulty following simple directions (e.g., steps in a recipe) or taking longer than usual to complete tasks
• Struggling to complete familiar tasks, such as making a grocery list
• Losing track of dates or the passage of time, especially when trying to recall a memory or something scheduled in the future
• Trouble following conversations
• Inability to retrace their steps to find lost items
• Changes in judgment or decision-making
• Mood or personality changes, such as becoming confused, fearful, anxious, or easily upset

6. Mismanaged Finances

Managing money can become difficult for some seniors, especially if they’re on a fixed income, trying to catch up on payments, or struggling with memory issues. Financial trouble is often a big sign a senior needs help at home.

Look for these warning signs of mismanaged finances in your elderly parent:

• Frequent late payment or overdraft fees
• Bounced checks
• Late payment notices in the mai
• Calls or bills from collections agencies

Offer to help your loved one review their bills and verify that any calls from collections agencies are legitimate and not scams. While your parent may be reluctant to accept help, financial stability will only become more crucial as you plan their future care needs.

7. Difficulty Getting Around

If your loved one is spending more time in one place, it could be due to decreased mobility. Even simple movement around their home can be challenging for seniors who are struggling with balance or have a limited range of motion. Driving often becomes another challenge as vision changes and reflexes slow, making it harder to stay safe when driving place to place.

These signs may signal that your loved one is struggling with driving:

• A car that hasn’t had a recent oil change or shows fewer miles than expected
• Tickets or reports of minor accidents
• Unexplained damage to the car
• Getting lost while driving

Inside the home, you might see these signs of a senior who needs help getting around:

• Rooms your loved one avoids because they’re difficult to get to
• An unused kitchen with tools stored out of reach
• A lack of fresh groceries, which may implicate difficulty driving to the store or retrieving items from shelves

Mobility challenges are a major sign of decline in elderly adults and can lead to isolation or poor nutrition. If you notice these signs, it may be time to consider care at home, transportation services, or a move to a senior living community.

8. Unexplained Bruises or Cuts

Seniors have skin that is thinner and more frail than other age groups, which makes it more prone to injury, but frequent bruises or cuts can suggest something more serious. Often, these injuries occur when a senior falls or braces against furniture to prevent a fall. Falls in older adults can lead to broken bones, hospitalizations, or a long-term disability.

The following signs of unexplained injuries or fall risk may be a sign your parent needs help at home:

• Blood-stained clothing from frequent cuts
• Using walls or furniture for balance
• Shuffling instead of lifting feet when walking
• Visible swelling or bruising
• Hiding injuries

If your loved one has injuries but doesn’t appear to have mobility problems, they may be experiencing elder abuse. This is sadly a reality for some seniors. If you suspect your loved one needs help from abuse, you can find your state’s elder abuse hotline or call the national Eldercare Locator helpline at 1-800-677-1116.

Most importantly, you should calmly and supportively talk to your loved one about what you’re noticing and ensure them that you want to help. Let them know you can provide a safe space for them to share what’s happening.

9. Changes in Mood or Behavior

Sudden or gradual changes in mood or behavior can be a warning sign of decline in elderly adults. While these shifts are often associated with Alzheimer’s or dementia, they can also result from other causes, such as medication side effects, drug interactions, or underlying health conditions. For instance, depression, anxiety, and excitability are all symptoms of polypharmacy.

Delirium, often triggered by infections like a UTI, comes on suddenly and requires medical attention as soon as possible. Watch for these behavioral delirium symptoms:

• Short temper
• Distrust or fear of people
• Quick mood or personality changes
• Sluggishness
• Withdrawal or unusual quietness
• Combative or restless behavior

More gradual shifts in mood may be a sign of a mental health condition. Depression symptoms in seniors may include the following, according to the National Institute on Aging:

• Loss of interest in usual hobbies or activities
• Decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthless
• Sleeping more or less than usual
• Lack of motivation
• Unintentional changes in weight
• Slower movement or speech

If you notice any of these serious changes in your elderly parent, seek medical advice or care promptly. Addressing mood swings or behavioral changes early can help improve quality of life and prevent further complications.

10. Loneliness

For many seniors, loneliness is a daily reality—especially if they live alone or have limited mobility. Without regular social interaction, isolation can take a serious toll on mental and physical health. Loneliness in older adults is linked to increased risks of the following conditions, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association:

• Anxiety
• Dementia
• Depression
• Heart disease

If you notice your loved one withdrawing or spending most of their time alone, they may need help or company at home. Try your best to help them combat loneliness by scheduling regular visits or phone calls. If they have a local senior center in their area, research activities and transportation options for your loved one. Or look into companion care which can help them reap the benefits of socialization and companionship.

How to Help Your Elderly Parent When You Notice These Signs

If you’ve observed any of these signs a senior needs help at home—whether during a holiday visit or routine check-in—it’s time to talk to your loved one and other family members about adding some extra support. Many seniors benefit from caregiver assistance, especially with daily hygiene, meal preparation, and tasks around their home.

If you’ve noticed multiple signs your elderly parent needs help, you may want to explore these care options as a next step:

• Independent living is ideal for active seniors who can manage most daily tasks but seek a maintenance-free lifestyle and social engagement. It’s great for parents who struggle with loneliness, meal preparation, and household chores.
• In-home care is best for seniors who want to stay in their home but seek companionship or need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, meal preparation, or medication reminders.
• Assisted living is recommended when living at home is no longer safe or practical. It provides 24-hour support, social engagement, and help with ADLs in a secure environment.
• Respite care is perfect for seniors looking for a short-term stay, especially for seniors who’d like to experience community life before committing to an assisted living community or if a family caregiver needs a break.
• Memory care is designed for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. These communities offer specialized care, structured routines, engaging programming, and a safe setting tailored to cognitive needs.

At Sunrise Senior Living, we offer all these care options and more. Our communities provide personalized care, engaging activities catered to our residents’ interests, and a lively environment for seniors to make new friends. If you’re ready to learn more, reach out to a Sunrise community near you.

References

[1] National Center for Health Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, August). Prescription drug use among adults aged 40–79 in the United States and Canada.

[2] Johns Hopkins Medicine. Polypharmacy in adults 60 and older.

[3] Alzheimer’s Association. 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia.

[4] National Institute on Aging. National Institutes of Health. (2022, September 12). Fall and fractures in older adults: Causes and prevention.

[5] Mayo Clinic. (2022, October 14). Delirium.

[6] National Institute on Aging. National Institutes of Health. (2025, February 5). Depression and older adults.