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- Medications
Are prescriptions not being refilled, resulting in failure to take medication when scheduled?
Has taking medication become difficult due to poor memory or confusion? Evidence may include pills taken together that shouldnt be, different pills mixed together in a pillbox or an oversupply or undersupply of pills.
Have conditions previously under control become acute because medication is not being taken correctly?
2) Food and Groceries
Based on past food habits, are the cupboards frequently empty or being filled with unusual foods?
Is the food in the refrigerator often spoiled or kept long beyond the “use by” date?
3) Daily Business
Is the mail being picked up and opened regularly or is it remaining uncollected and/or unopened?
Are credit cards or a checkbook being misused or not balanced as well as in the past?
4) Social Contact
Has the amount of social contact changed dramatically, so that there are few public outings or limited social visits with close friends?
Has the ability to drive deteriorated? Is there a fear of driving or a recent history of multiple minor accidents that is leading to isolation?
5) Living Habits
Has there been a change in living habits such as a change in dress or appearance or a decline in personal hygiene not related to physical disability? Is dress appropriate for the weather?
Have housekeeping habits changed so that a normally neat and orderly home is now cluttered and not cleaned regularly?
Are pets that were normally well cared for suddenly not being fed or cared for as they had been in the past?
6) Solicitations
Is there a sudden increase in ordering unnecessary items through mail or televised advertisements?
7) Calls to Family Members or Health Care Providers
Has there been a marked increase in panic calls to family or medical providers without apparent need?
Have unnecessary calls been made to 911?
Reproduced from National Underwriter Life & Health/Financial Services Edition, January 6, 2003. Copyright 2003 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.