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What Can Your Loved One’s Home Tell You about Her Needs?

Admin • March 9, 2022

Your elderly loved one might not always be as open and honest with you about her need for help as you would like for her to be. In that case, you might need to go on a bit of a clue hunt around her house.

The Yard Hasn’t Been Maintained

The yard can be an initial clue for you that your loved one is having issues keeping up with some tasks. Even if she has someone else handling the yardwork for her, she may not be keeping up with scheduling that job. There could be other reasons yardwork isn’t done, though, so you might want to combine this with other indicators.

The House Is Dirty or More Cluttered than Usual

If your loved one has always been fairly neat and tidy, having a cluttered or dirty home is going to be unusual for her. Some elderly loved ones may stop allowing people into their homes once the house becomes too cluttered or dirty. If this is the case for your loved one, you may not be able to directly see inside her home.

Pots and Pans Either Aren’t Used or Have Scorch Marks

When you are able to access your loved one’s home, the state of her cooking utensils and pans can tell you a good bit. If they look as if they haven’t been used in a long time, your loved one may be relying on convenience foods or eating out a lot. Scorch marks can be an indication that the pans are being left unattended on the heat too long.

Unopened Mail Sits Everywhere

If your loved one isn’t opening her mail and it’s piling up, that can be an indication that she’s letting certain things slide. Junk mail that’s unopened could simply mean that she’s overwhelmed about sifting through all of the mail. Unopened bills or other important mail, on the other hand, is a bigger deal.

The Fridge and Pantry Are Empty

Taking a look at your loved one’s pantry, fridge, and freezer can give you an indication what types of food she’s eating regularly. If these spaces are empty or are looking sparse, this is a big sign that your loved one could be having other problems.

Once you determine that your loved one needs extra help, do what you can and consider hiring home care providers to help both of you.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Chappaqua, NY, contact Star One Home Care and Medical Staffing at 718-733-2222 or 914-362-0899. Call today!

Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA

Director of Client Services at Star One Home Care


Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA is Director of Client Services & Director of Phoenix Nurse Aide Training Center. Before assuming the post in 2012, Patricia was the Director or Nursing & Service Delivery at WRC for 3 years where she was the strategic lead for nursing and services to members.


Patricia started her nursing career 19 years ago at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and research institution in New York City, and since then has gained experience in Adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) , Pediatric Care (PICU ), Operating Room (OR) , mental health and community settings. She later moved into director of nursing roles, where she obtained extensive experience in leading and developing the nursing profession. She also pioneered good partnership working with other health care organizations, as well as social services, and the wider community.

Latest posts by Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA

Caring for a Parent with Vision Loss - July 25, 2017

Living with Huntington’s Disease - June 29, 2017

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