Like millions of people around the world, I visited my parents over the past several days for Christmas. I am fortunate in that they only live 2 hours away, so I get to see them relatively often. Many Americans only see their parents once a year, or maybe every other year as they alternate between in-laws and their own parents.

When you don’t see your parents often, it can be startling to see what aging has done to them. Many adult children don’t recognize their parents’ need until they see it face-to-face.

Many in-home care providers see a spike in interest during the month of January after adult children return home realizing their parents need some assistance at home. For many seniors, all they need is a little something to help them lead more independent, fulfulling lives. In many cases, the adult children, the “sandwich generation”, have their own financial responsibilities and can’t afford to financially support their parents. This might be a good time to look into a reverse mortgage to unlock that equity, and thus, unlock your parents’ independence. In other cases, maybe more significant care and attention might be needed.

Below are some clear warning signs that intervention is needed.

1. Mail and bills are left to pile up. The simple act of opening and filing mail becomes overwhelming. Managing a checking account also can become too much for a parent to handle.

2. The house is cluttered or unkempt. This is especially troubling if a parent has always been neat and orderly.

3. Food in the refrigerator is uneaten or spoiled. Shopping, cooking and cleaning become too much trouble. A parent might eat just enough to get by, but suffer nutritionally. Losing weight can be another sign that a parent is not eating a nutritious diet.

4. There are signs of scorching on the bottoms of pots and pans. A result of short-term memory loss, this is a dangerous sign that parents are forgetting about pots left on the stove, causing a fire hazard and threatening both the individual’s and the surrounding neighbors’ safety.

5. The parent wears the same clothing over and over again and has other personal hygiene issues. Doing laundry has become physically challenging, particularly if the washing machine is in the basement. Or there may be a fear of falling in the tub or shower.

6. Doctor’s appointments are missed. Sometimes this is simply a product of not having transportation and not knowing how to access ride options.

7. The parent makes repeated phone calls at odd hours. When a parent telephones friends or family at odd hours, it may be a sign of memory loss or a cry for help, a sign of depression or isolation. Arranging for a daily check-in phone call, a regular volunteer visitor or getting involved with a local senior center could make all the difference.

8. The parent forgets to take medication. A sign of short-term memory loss or depression, this isn’t just a quality-of-life issue but a real risk factor.

9. The parent shows inappropriate behavior, clothing or speech. You may hear about this from a neighbor, someone who has noticed that your parent is not dressing appropriately for the weather, for instance. That’s a sign that he or she might be confused.

10. The parent shows symptoms of depression. A frequent problem for many older people who feel isolated and alone, like a prisoner in their own homes, depression causes marked changes in behavior and routine. Feelings of hopelessness or despair, lack of interest in once pleasurable activities, crying, listlessness and not wanting to get dressed can all be indications of a problem.

Source: Senior Citizen’s Guide, a resource guide and directory