Checklist: How to Assess Whether Someone Living Alone Needs Care

If any of the following conditions exist, the person should not be living alone and requires immediate assistance:

• Weight loss of more than six pounds or 10 percent of body weight in six months
• Agitated paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, aggression
• Weapons present, especially loaded
• Evidence of fire or misuse of appliances
• No food in the house
• Falling
• Medication mistakes
• Repeated emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or physical complaints
• Evidence of domestic violence, including the person injuring a caregiver
• Frequent calls to police or emergency services
• Wandering outside the home