and your parent if the need presents itself.

The decline happens in stages.

Here are the signs when you need to begin to consider stepping in:
Deterioration of personal hygiene
Unpaid bills, unopened mail
Carpets stained with food
Trouble remembering recent events
Change of eating habits
Misplacing objects
Inability to remember if medication was taken or not
Unexplained bruises
Frequent calls to you or others

During the next stage, the severity of the symptoms escalates, and your parent needs immediate involvement of a caregiver:

Odors in the house

Urine stained carpet

Noticeable weight gain or loss

Skin tears or bruises

Repetitive phone calls at odd times

Inability to recall how the day was spent

Offensive mouth odor

Medication bottle either too full or too empty

Final notices on bills

Unexplained dents on the car

If you notice the symptoms above you have to step in before it is too late.
You will need to find the right time to sit down and talk to your parent.

The following points should be considered:

Have your parent evaluated professionally, medically, and mentally to make sure a proper diagnosis is made, and appropriate treatment is in place. Home care should be set up if needed, either by the family or paid help.

Write down all of your parents’ financial assets, all their insurance policies, real estate holdings, bank accounts, and safe combinations. Familiarize yourself with the content of all documents. Make copies of all relevant