How to Evaluate Your Parent's Immediate Care Needs and Living Situation

You may be able to assess the situation yourself by spending the better part of a day with your parent and observing whether he can move around the house safely, take care of personal hygiene and dressing, prepare food, manage medications, get to doctor's appointments, and take care of finances. Also check whether he has systems in place in case of a crisis (who would he call for help, and does he have an emergency contact list?).

If you don't think he can handle living independently, there are two simple ways to get the help you need:

1. If you can afford it, hire a geriatric care manager (or GCM, a specialist in assessing an elder's needs, identifying and arranging any help needed, and monitoring the situation as needed). GCMs charge anywhere from $75 to $250 an hour, depending on the location, or a flat fee for an initial assessment.
2. Ask your area agency on aging about free or low-cost assessments by social workers, care consultants, or other professionals who provide services similar to geriatric care managers. You can find your local area agency on aging here.

In both cases, these professionals can show you what's needed in your specific situation: home safety modifications, personal care, memory support, and more. They can also refer you to local medical specialists or eldercare attorneys, transportation and housing options, and other resources.

Find your area agency on aging.
Find a geriatric care manager.