Five Signs Your Aging Parent May Need More Support Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
Susie’s Story
Susie was one of my patients when I worked as a home health physical therapist.
“How did you break your hip?” I asked her while she was recovering from surgery to repair a hip fracture.
“I got up to go to the bathroom. I think I moved too fast. I felt dizzy… and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor,” she said, describing the fall.
“Was this your first fall?” I continued.
“Yes, I’ve never fallen before,” she answered.
“And what did you do after you fell?” I asked, partly to understand what happened and partly so I could later create fall-prevention strategies.
“I just stayed on the floor until the evening… until my daughter came and called 911.”
That was only half of the story.
The other half came from Marlee, Susie’s daughter.
Susie had actually fallen several times in the year before this accident, fortunately without serious injuries. After one of those earlier falls, Marlee arranged for her mother to wear an emergency alert button in case it happened again.
When Susie fell and broke her hip, she was wearing the pendant around her neck.
She just didn’t use it.
A word from our clients:
Ronit was always willing to listen to Mom’s thoughts and concerns and address them in the process. Ronit established a care plan for Mom. She was also instrumental in recommending social and medical services, including hospice care. I highly recommend Ronit’s care management services.
Betty Hemmingsen
Later, Marlee asked me a question I hear often:
“Do you think my mom needs more help than just wearing the emergency call button?”
If you’re like Marlee, wondering whether your aging parent needs more support, it’s probably not random. Something already feels off.
In this post, I want to share the five signs I most often see, or hear about, when families in Eugene and Springfield reach out to me, and what those signs may really be telling you.
Common Warning Signs
Subtle Changes in Memory or Judgment
Not just forgetting a name, we all do that.
- Missing medical appointments
- Forgetting medications
- Paying bills twice, or not at all
- Poor financial decisions
These are often early signs that your parent may need more support, even if they still insist they’re “fine.”
You don’t have to label it ‘dementia’ to recognize that something has changed.
Changes in Personal Care or Home Environment
If someone who was always neat and organized suddenly:
- Stops showering regularly
- Wears the same clothes for days
- Let the house become cluttered or unsafe
- There is expired food in the refrigerator
That’s usually not laziness. It’s often overwhelming, depression, or cognitive decline.
I always tell families to look around with fresh eyes, as the home tells a story.
Safety Concerns
This is a big one.
- Dents on the car
- Falls or near-falls
- Leaving the stove on
- Wandering
- Getting lost in familiar places
Even one of these can be a signal that supervision or added support is needed.
Safety concerns rarely improve on their own.
Increased Isolation or Withdrawal
Sometimes support isn’t just physical, it’s social and emotional. If your parent:
- Stops seeing friends
- Gives up hobbies
- Avoids phone calls
- Seems withdrawn or depressed
That isolation can accelerate decline.
Support might mean companionship, structured activities, or even a senior living environment where connection happens naturally.
Caregiver Burnout (This One Surprises People)
Sometimes the sign isn’t about your parent, it’s about you. If you’re:
- Constantly worried
- Losing sleep
- Feeling resentful or overwhelmed
- Dropping everything to manage crises
That’s a sign that you, too, need support.
Waiting until there’s a major crisis makes decisions harder and more emotional.
Back to Susie’s story
When I stepped back and looked at the full picture, what Susie told me and what Marlee shared, the signs became clearer.
There were frequent falls, which indicated safety concerns and decreased awareness.
There were signs of cognitive decline; she was wearing the emergency call button, but didn’t think to use it.
There were memory gaps; she didn’t remember the previous falls her daughter described.
And there were quieter signs around the house: piles of unopened mail, a cluttered living room and bedroom… small details that often tell a bigger story.
As a senior living advisor in Eugene and Springfield, I work with families who are navigating early signs of memory loss, safety concerns, caregiver stress, and decisions about assisted living or memory care.
If you’re noticing one or more of these signs and you’re not sure what the next step should be, I’m always happy to talk it through with you. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
