Small fires or floods are signs that an elder is leaving a stove or iron on or forgetting to turn off water faucets. Also, talk to the elder's neighbors. They may notice changes in the elder's routine, such as forgetting to pick up the mail for several days. Not taking medications properly. The easiest way to find out how well seniors are taking medications is to ask how often they were instructed to take medication, and compare their answer to what's marked on the prescription label or count the number of pills.
Many elderly people rely on medication aids such as the seven-day pill dispenser.
All the medications for the week are placed in daily sections. If your loved one is using a system like that, you can easily check to see whether they're keeping up with their medicines. There are many possible reasons for weight loss, all of which need to be addressed. First, check to make sure there is adequate food in the house. Many elders can't get to the grocery store often enough or carry all the food they need.