Garden variety memory lapses, like misplacing car keys, are normal, but where do you draw the line? A good rule of thumb is that if you notice that your loved one has repeated episodes of memory loss, and/or troubling personality changes or difficulty performing everyday tasks, like driving or financial management, it could be time for a crisis elder care plan. Here are some red flags to watch for:

• Asking the same questions over and over again;
• Repeating the same stories;
• Difficulty paying bills, balancing the check book or reading a bank or credit card statement;
• Difficulty adding and subtracting;
• Late notices and missed payments, unopened mail accumulating;
• Paying the same bill multiple times in the same month;
• Difficulty performing everyday tasks (getting lost and being unable to find your way home, forgetting how to operate a home appliance);
• Decline in personal hygiene (not bathing or brushing teeth, wearing the same clothing day after day);
• Inappropriate attire, behavior, statements and/or language;
• Confusion or word-finding difficulty (ex. asking where the “bread-thingy” is instead of where the toaster is;
• Inability to retain new information; and/or
• Irritability or foul language, behavior consistent with depression, apathy, anxiety, agitation, delusions and hallucinations, wandering, aggression

If you notice one or more of these signs, it may be a good idea to contact an elder lawyer without delay. An elder lawyer can help you find the best care and a way to pay for that care with public benefits, while protecting your life savings and the family home.