{"id":68062,"date":"2026-08-19T16:23:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T16:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/?p=68062"},"modified":"2026-08-21T13:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T13:37:58","slug":"signs-an-aging-parent-may-need-more-help-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/signs-an-aging-parent-may-need-more-help-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs an Aging Parent May Need More Help at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Most older adults in Mississauga can keep living safely in their own homes when the right support is in place. One rough day, a skipped meal, or a single misplaced word is not a diagnosis, and it is not proof that full-time care is needed. We are in local homes every day, and the signs an aging parent may need more help at home are usually quieter than families expect. What matters is the pattern that builds over weeks, and knowing when an assessment can explain it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What are the first signs an aging parent needs more help at home?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The most common early signs are unexplained weight loss, missed meals, falls or new unsteadiness, medication mistakes, missed appointments, changes in memory or behaviour, and growing strain on the family caregiver. Any one of these can have an ordinary explanation. It is when a few of them show up together, or keep getting worse, that they are worth acting on.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">No single sign means an aging parent needs more help at home. Watch for several changes across daily tasks that build over weeks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:90}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization among Canadian seniors; the total rose 47 percent from 2008\/09 to 2019\/20, while the age-standardized rate stayed roughly stable (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/healthy-living\/surveillance-report-falls-older-adults-canada.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Surveillance report on falls, 2024<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:90}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">One in four Canadian seniors was prescribed 10 or more drug classes in 2021; missed doses, wrong pill-organizer days, or uncollected refills can signal a need for more support (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/drug-use-among-seniors-in-canada\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information, Drug use among seniors, 2021<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:90}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Occasional forgetfulness is normal aging. Getting lost in familiar places or repeating questions is worth a doctor&#8217;s assessment, not a family diagnosis (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness\/memory-problems-forgetfulness-and-aging\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Institute on Aging, Memory, Forgetfulness, and Aging<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:90}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">More than 2 in 5 unpaid caregivers of long-stay home care clients report distress, so your own exhaustion counts as a real signal (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/indicators\/caregiver-distress\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information, Caregiver distress, 2024<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:90}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Start with a free in-home consultation, or request an Ontario Health atHome assessment at 1-833-515-1234, to match support to the actual need (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/home-community-care\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario, Home and community care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:90}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What \u201cNeeding More Help at Home\u201d Really Looks Like<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Needing more help often shows up first in the more complicated parts of daily life, before the basic routines of self-care. Managing medications, money, meals, appointments, and getting around can slip before bathing, dressing, and moving safely around the house, which is part of why the earliest signs are easy to miss. These more complicated tasks are often called instrumental activities of daily living, or IADLs, while basic self-care such as bathing and dressing is known as activities of daily living, or ADLs. A parent who can still shower and dress may already be struggling to keep track of a pill schedule or a chequebook.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Mississauga is home to about 119,400 residents aged 65 and older, close to one in six, and that group grew by roughly 17 percent between 2016 and 2021 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www12.statcan.gc.ca\/census-recensement\/2021\/as-sa\/fogs-spg\/page.cfm?lang=E&amp;topic=2&amp;dguid=2021A00053521005\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">(Statistics Canada, Census Profile, Mississauga, 2021)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Nationally, more than 9 in 10 seniors live in private homes in the community rather than in care facilities <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/diseases-conditions\/aging-chronic-diseases-profile-canadian-seniors-report.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">(Public Health Agency of Canada)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, and most can keep doing so when support is matched to what they actually need.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Needing some help does not mean giving up independence or leaving home. Support ranges from a couple of hours a week to daily visits, and it can grow or shrink as things change. In the Mississauga homes we visit, the first thing families notice is rarely dramatic. It is usually a small thing that is easy to explain away on its own, which is why the picture tends to come into focus only when a few of these changes are seen together.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:200}\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68064 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-1_Five-Signs-Overview.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1595\" height=\"1286\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-1_Five-Signs-Overview.png 2400w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-1_Five-Signs-Overview-768x619.png 768w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-1_Five-Signs-Overview-1536x1238.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-1_Five-Signs-Overview-2048x1650.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1595px) 100vw, 1595px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1595px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1595\/1286;\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Meals and Household Routines<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Changes in how a parent eats and keeps house are some of the easiest signs to see, and they matter because nutritional risk is associated with poorer health outcomes. About 34 percent of community-dwelling Canadians aged 65 and older in nine provinces, excluding Quebec, were at nutritional risk in 2008\/2009 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/pub\/82-003-x\/2017009\/article\/54856-eng.htm\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Statistics Canada, Nutritional risk among seniors, Health Reports, 2017<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Look for weight loss you did not expect, rings and clothes that hang loose, a bare or spoiled fridge, meals left untouched, a switch to toast and snacks, and dishes, laundry, or unopened mail stacking up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When our caregivers cook with a client instead of only cooking for them, it keeps mealtimes social and hands-on, which is the idea behind our Interactive Caregiving\u2122 approach. If you want a sense of how everyday help at home works, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/care-services\/in-home-care-services\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">home care services for seniors<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> page walks through it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is unplanned weight loss something to worry about?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Yes. Losing weight without trying should be checked by a doctor, because it can point to a treatable health problem or to growing frailty (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/healthy-eating-nutrition-and-diet\/maintaining-healthy-weight\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Institute on Aging, Maintaining a Healthy Weight<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). A parent who is quietly eating less is worth a closer look, even when nothing else seems wrong.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Falls and Mobility<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A new unsteadiness on the feet, or a fall of any kind, is one of the clearest signals that a parent&#8217;s support and home setup need a fresh look. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization among Canadians aged 65 and older. The annual number of fall-related hospitalizations increased 47 percent between 2008\/09 and 2019\/20 in Canadian data excluding Quebec, though the age-standardized rate stayed relatively stable, which points to a growing older population rather than a higher risk for each person (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/healthy-living\/surveillance-report-falls-older-adults-canada.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Surveillance report on falls, 2024<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Older national data, covering 2006 to 2011, found that more than a third of seniors hospitalized for a fall were discharged to long-term care rather than home (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/seniors-falls-canada-second-report.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Seniors&#8217; Falls in Canada, 2014<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). That is why a single fall is worth taking seriously, even when your parent brushes it off.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The hazards we spot are usually the same handful: loose scatter rugs, poor lighting on the stairs, a bathroom with nothing to hold onto, and a favourite chair that sits too low to get out of easily. Addressing these hazards can help reduce fall risk, especially as part of a broader fall-prevention plan.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What everyday signs point to a higher fall risk?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There are a few specific habits to watch for. Common ones are feeling unsteady while walking, steadying themselves on furniture to get around the house, and pushing up with both hands to stand. So are trouble stepping onto a curb, using or being advised to use a cane or walker, a fall in the past year, and worrying about falling. These are recognized warning signs (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/steadi\/pdf\/STEADI-Brochure-StayIndependent-508.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STEADI Stay Independent checklist, 2023<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). If several of these are true, raise it with their doctor.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Medication or Appointment Changes<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Trouble keeping medications and appointments straight is a common early sign and deserves attention. One in four Canadian seniors was prescribed 10 or more different drug classes in 2021 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/drug-use-among-seniors-in-canada\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information, Drug use among seniors, 2021<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Adverse drug reactions are a recognized reason seniors end up in hospital, and that risk rises with the number of medications a person takes (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.cihi.ca\/estore\/productFamily.htm?lang=en&amp;pf=PFC2128\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information, Adverse Drug Reaction-Related Hospitalizations Among Seniors, 2006 to 2011<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Signs at home include uncertainty about which pill and when, expired bottles in the cabinet, refills that never get filled, a pill organizer with the wrong days full, and appointments that slip by.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Some medication side effects, and some combinations of prescriptions with over-the-counter or natural products, can also look like memory loss, confusion, or drowsiness (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/safe-living-guide-a-guide-home-safety-seniors\/keeping-track-your-medicine.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Keeping track of your medicine<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). That is a reason to book a pharmacist or clinician medication review rather than to assume the worst. If you would like help arranging support around medications, you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/contact\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">contact our Mississauga team<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Memory and Behaviour<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Some forgetfulness comes with age. Certain changes deserve a doctor&#8217;s assessment, and noticing them is a reason to ask questions, not to reach a diagnosis at the kitchen table. Only a health care provider can diagnose dementia (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/diseases\/dementia.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Dementia overview<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Canada&#8217;s public health guidance describes the kinds of changes worth watching for: memory loss that keeps getting worse, trouble judging time or knowing where they are, growing difficulty with tasks that need planning or organization, changes in mood and behaviour, and problems finding words or following a conversation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/diseases\/dementia\/symptoms-treatment.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Dementia: Symptoms and treatment<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). In daily life that can look like getting lost somewhere familiar, asking the same question over and over, struggling to follow a recipe or pay bills, or pulling back from activities a parent used to enjoy. If your concern is dementia specifically, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/alzheimers-dementia-home-care\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and dementia care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> page explains how we support families through it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is normal aging, and what is a warning sign?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Families ask us about this more than anything else on this page. The comparison below sets out the everyday moments that usually turn out to be ordinary, beside the ones worth raising with a doctor. If several on the right sound familiar, book the appointment and bring your notes with you.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoNormalTable\" data-tablelook=\"1696\" aria-rowcount=\"6\" aria-colcount=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Common with normal aging<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Worth talking to a doctor about<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Misplacing keys or glasses now and then, and finding them later<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Putting items in unusual places and being unable to retrace the steps to find them<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"3\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Forgetting a word occasionally, then recalling it<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Trouble following or joining a conversation, or stopping mid sentence<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"4\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Making a poor decision once in a while<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Consistently poor judgment, especially with money or safety<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"5\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Forgetting which day it is, then remembering<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Losing track of dates and seasons, or not knowing where they are<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"6\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Needing occasional help with a phone or an appliance setting<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Struggling to finish a familiar task, like a recipe they have made for years<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Comparison drawn from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness\/age-related-forgetfulness-or-signs-dementia\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Institute on Aging, Age-Related Forgetfulness or Signs of Dementia?<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Family Caregiver Exhaustion<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Your own burnout is a sign too. When the family caregiver is worn down, the current arrangement is often already stretched past what it can hold. More than 2 in 5 unpaid caregivers of long-stay home care clients report distress (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/indicators\/caregiver-distress\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information, Caregiver distress, 2024<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">), and caring for a parent is the most common unpaid care situation in the country, at 53 percent of caregivers (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/221108\/dq221108b-eng.htm\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Statistics Canada, Providing care in Canada, 2022<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Among caregivers of seniors with dementia, those providing more than 20 hours of direct care each week had nearly three times the odds of distress (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/dementia-in-canada\/unpaid-caregiver-challenges-and-supports\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information, Unpaid caregivers of seniors with dementia<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The signs are easy to recognize once you name them: constant tiredness, worry that does not switch off, feeling overwhelmed, your own health slipping, and no time left for yourself. This is exactly what <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/respite-care\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">respite care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is for. It gives you a real break, from a few hours to a longer stretch, while your parent stays in capable hands.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">When More Frequent Support May Help<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It is the pattern that tells you, not one bad day. Several signs at once, a steady slide over a few weeks, or one serious event, such as an injurious fall or getting lost in a familiar place, should prompt a reassessment of whether the current setup is still safe and sufficient. A single change on its own does not settle anything, and it does not mean full-time care is the only answer.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">These changes also tend to overlap. Poor nutrition, frailty, fall risk, and medication side effects can feed into one another, which is one reason several signs appearing together deserve attention rather than any single one. Some medication combinations, for example, can cause drowsiness, memory problems, or confusion that are themselves linked to falls (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/safe-living-guide-a-guide-home-safety-seniors\/keeping-track-your-medicine.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada, Keeping track of your medicine<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). Help is a range, not a switch. It can start at a couple of hours a week for meals and errands, and grow only as far as the need actually does.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Families often expect the answer to be all or nothing. The first round of support is usually narrow and specific, as the table below shows.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoNormalTable\" data-tablelook=\"1696\" aria-rowcount=\"6\" aria-colcount=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What you are seeing<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What usually helps first<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Where that help comes from<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Meals skipped, weight dropping<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Grocery help, meal preparation, and company at mealtimes<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Private home care, or publicly funded homemaking for those who also qualify for personal support or meet other criteria<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"3\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Unsteady on the feet, or a recent fall<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Home safety changes, help with bathing and dressing, support getting around<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Personal support, plus occupational therapy through the public system<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"4\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Medications missed or muddled<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Reminders, a pharmacist medication review, nursing visits<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A pharmacist or family doctor, nursing, personal support<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"5\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Memory changes affecting daily tasks<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A medical assessment first, then routine, supervision, and dementia trained caregivers<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Family doctor, then specialised dementia care<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"6\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">The family caregiver is worn out<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Scheduled respite, whether a weekly afternoon or a longer break<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Respite care<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Publicly funded service types are set out by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/home-community-care\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario, Home and community care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Eligibility is confirmed at assessment.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Starting the Conversation<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-68067 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/bd6dede2-7c22-4d36-8767-4bd7a1b70b5b-CKOakAugBlog3-1-768x456.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1183\" height=\"702\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/bd6dede2-7c22-4d36-8767-4bd7a1b70b5b-CKOakAugBlog3-1-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/bd6dede2-7c22-4d36-8767-4bd7a1b70b5b-CKOakAugBlog3-1-1170x694.jpg 1170w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1183px) 100vw, 1183px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1183px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1183\/702;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Lead with what you have actually seen, not with conclusions, and bring your parent&#8217;s doctor in early. Pick a calm moment rather than the middle of a hard day. Name specific things you noticed, such as the stairs looking difficult last week or the fridge being nearly empty, and ask how they feel things are going. Most parents respond better to a concerned observation than to a verdict about their future.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When we sit down with a Mississauga family for the first time, we treat the parent as the person in charge of their own home, because they are. Framing extra help as something that takes pressure off the whole family, rather than something being done to them, tends to make the idea easier to accept. The goal of the conversation is agreement on a next step, often as small as a doctor&#8217;s visit or a single trial afternoon of support.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">H2: What an Assessment Clarifies, and How to Get One in Mississauga<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">An assessment turns worry into a plan. It shows which tasks need help, how much, what services are available, and whether anything should be seen by a doctor first. It also settles the question many families keep circling: are we overreacting, or are we waiting too long? There are two straightforward ways to get one in Mississauga, and many families use both.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoNormalTable\" data-tablelook=\"1696\" aria-rowcount=\"5\" aria-colcount=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Comfort Keepers care consultation<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"69905\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario Health atHome<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What it is<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A free in-home visit from our local team to review needs and build a care plan<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A publicly funded assessment of needs and eligibility, completed by a care coordinator<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"3\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to start<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Book a free consultation or call 905-671-4004<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Call 1-833-515-1234, or ask a doctor to refer you. You can also refer yourself with consent<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"4\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cost<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">No cost and no obligation<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">No cost for the assessment, with publicly funded services for those who qualify<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"5\">\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Best when<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">You want to start quickly, add hours, or arrange private support<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"4369\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">You want to know what publicly funded home care your parent qualifies for<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sources: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/home-community-care\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario, Home and community care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ontariohealthathome.ca\/getting-started\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario Health atHome, Getting Started<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:200}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How do I get a home care assessment in Ontario?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Once you contact Ontario Health atHome at 1-833-515-1234, a care coordinator reviews your parent&#8217;s needs and eligibility, sometimes with a visit to the home. Any Ontario resident with a valid OHIP card can receive that assessment (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ontariohealthathome.ca\/getting-started\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario Health atHome, Getting Started<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). If you are not sure where to begin, calling Health811 at 811 connects you to a registered nurse who can point you to the right service (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/health-care-ontario\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario, Health care in Ontario<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What happens in a Comfort Keepers care consultation?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">We come to the home, listen to what you have noticed, and look at daily routines together, at no cost and no obligation. From there we translate the signs your family has seen into a practical care plan, usually starting small and adjusting as needs change. We also coordinate around any publicly funded services already in place, so our support fits alongside them rather than duplicating them. You can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/contact\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">book a free consultation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> whenever you are ready.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">None of this has to happen at once. Most families move from the first thing they notice to a plan they are comfortable with in a handful of clear steps, shown below.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-68066 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-3_Next-Steps-Process.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1578\" height=\"830\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-3_Next-Steps-Process.png 2400w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-3_Next-Steps-Process-768x404.png 768w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-3_Next-Steps-Process-1536x808.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/170\/2026\/08\/CK-Mississauga_Infographic-3_Next-Steps-Process-2048x1077.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1578px) 100vw, 1578px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1578px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1578\/830;\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:200}\">\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">About the Author<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Written by the Comfort Keepers Mississauga Editorial Team<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">, drawing on the day-to-day experience of our local caregivers, who support Mississauga families through exactly these decisions. We prepared this as general information for families, using the official Canadian and Ontario sources listed below. It is not medical advice and is not a diagnosis, and for guidance about a specific person you should speak with their doctor or another qualified health professional.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Last updated: <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">August 19, 2026. Learn more about our local team on our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Mississauga home care page<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Talk to Our Mississauga Care Team<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Noticing these signs is the start of a plan, not a verdict. If any of them sound like your parent, or like you, the next step is simple. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/contact\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Book a free consultation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> or call us at 905-671-4004, and our local team will help you sort out what the changes mean and what, if anything, to do next. We are here to help your parent keep living the life they want, at home.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sources<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/pub\/82-003-x\/2017009\/article\/54856-eng.htm\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Statistics Canada. Nutritional risk, hospitalization and mortality among community-dwelling Canadians aged 65 or older. Health Reports, 2017.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/healthy-living\/surveillance-report-falls-older-adults-canada.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada. Surveillance report on falls among older adults in Canada. Government of Canada, 2024.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/seniors-falls-canada-second-report.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada. Seniors&#8217; Falls in Canada: Second Report (data from 2006 to 2011). Government of Canada, 2014.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/steadi\/pdf\/STEADI-Brochure-StayIndependent-508.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STEADI: Stay Independent checklist. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/drug-use-among-seniors-in-canada\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information. Drug use among seniors in Canada, 2021. CIHI, 2022.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.cihi.ca\/estore\/productFamily.htm?lang=en&amp;pf=PFC2128\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information. Adverse Drug Reaction-Related Hospitalizations Among Seniors, 2006 to 2011. CIHI, 2013.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/health-promotion\/aging-seniors\/publications\/publications-general-public\/safe-living-guide-a-guide-home-safety-seniors\/keeping-track-your-medicine.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada. The Safe Living Guide: Keeping track of your medicine. Government of Canada.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness\/memory-problems-forgetfulness-and-aging\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Institute on Aging. Memory, Forgetfulness, and Aging: What&#8217;s Normal and What&#8217;s Not? U.S. National Institutes of Health, 2023.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/memory-loss-and-forgetfulness\/age-related-forgetfulness-or-signs-dementia\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Institute on Aging. Age-Related Forgetfulness or Signs of Dementia? U.S. National Institutes of Health, 2023.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/health\/healthy-eating-nutrition-and-diet\/maintaining-healthy-weight\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">National Institute on Aging. Maintaining a Healthy Weight. U.S. National Institutes of Health.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/diseases\/dementia.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada. Dementia: Overview. Government of Canada.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/diseases\/dementia\/symptoms-treatment.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada. Dementia: Symptoms and treatment. Government of Canada.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/indicators\/caregiver-distress\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information. Caregiver distress indicator. CIHI, 2024.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cihi.ca\/en\/dementia-in-canada\/unpaid-caregiver-challenges-and-supports\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Canadian Institute for Health Information. Dementia in Canada: Unpaid caregiver challenges and supports. CIHI.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/221108\/dq221108b-eng.htm\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Statistics Canada. Providing care in Canada, 2022. Government of Canada, 2022.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/home-community-care\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario. Home and community care. Ontario.ca.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ontariohealthathome.ca\/getting-started\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario Health atHome. Getting Started. 2024.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ontariohealthathome.ca\/patient-bill-of-rights-responsibilities\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario Health atHome. Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/health-care-ontario\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario. Health care in Ontario (Health811). Ontario.ca.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www12.statcan.gc.ca\/census-recensement\/2021\/as-sa\/fogs-spg\/page.cfm?lang=E&amp;topic=2&amp;dguid=2021A00053521005\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Statistics Canada. Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population, Mississauga, City. Government of Canada, 2022.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/diseases-conditions\/aging-chronic-diseases-profile-canadian-seniors-report.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Public Health Agency of Canada. Aging and Chronic Diseases: A Profile of Canadian Seniors. Government of Canada.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:280,&quot;335559739&quot;:120}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How do I know if my elderly parent can still live safely alone?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There is no single test, and one bad moment does not settle it. What tells you more is a pattern across everyday tasks: whether they are eating well and keeping the house up, staying steady on their feet, managing medications and appointments, keeping track of time and familiar routines, and staying socially connected rather than withdrawn. A parent handling most of these with only minor slips is usually fine with light support. When several are slipping at once, getting worse over a few weeks, or one serious event has happened, such as an injurious fall or getting lost in a familiar place, it is time to talk with their doctor and arrange an assessment that can show what is still safe and what needs support.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Does needing more help mean my parent has to leave their home?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">No. Most home care is delivered in the home, from a couple of hours a week up to daily visits, so more help usually means staying put with support rather than moving out. If needs ever grow beyond what home care can safely cover, an assessment will make that clear before it turns into a crisis, which gives your family time to plan rather than react.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is home care in Ontario covered, or do we pay for it?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario funds home care for eligible residents with a valid OHIP card through Ontario Health atHome, including nursing and personal support (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/home-community-care\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Government of Ontario, Home and community care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">). If publicly funded care does not cover every assessed or preferred need, families may choose private care to supplement it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">What if my parent does not want any help?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This is common, and pushing usually backfires. A capable adult generally has the right to decline care, including the right to give or refuse consent to home and community care services (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ontariohealthathome.ca\/patient-bill-of-rights-responsibilities\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ontario Health atHome, Patient Bill of Rights<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">), so the aim is to keep the door open rather than win an argument. The same suggestion often lands better coming from their family doctor or another person they trust than from an adult child. It also helps to attach the help to one worry they already share, such as driving at night or keeping track of medications, rather than framing it as a general loss of ability.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p aria-level=\"3\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">How is respite care different from regular home care?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:200,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Respite care exists mainly to give the family caregiver a rest, whether that is an afternoon or a longer break, while a professional steps in. Regular home care is organized around the senior&#8217;s ongoing daily needs. Plenty of families use both, and you can read how we structure <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/mississauga\/respite-care\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">respite care<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> if that is the pressure you are feeling most.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:100}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most older adults in Mississauga can keep living safely in their own homes when the right support is in place. One rough day, a skipped meal, or a single misplaced word is not a diagnosis, and it is not proof that full-time care is needed. We are in local homes every day, and the signs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":68070,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Signs an Aging Parent Needs More Help at Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Signs an aging parent needs more help at home, plus how Mississauga families tell normal aging from warning signs and when to seek an assessment.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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