Using your coverage · Section 1 of 5
Do we need help — and what kind?
Start here: the signs it may be time, and how care needs are measured.
Signs it may be time
No single sign means it is time for care. But if you are seeing several of these, it is worth taking a closer look:
- Missed medications, unpaid bills, or an empty refrigerator
- A fall — or a new fear of falling
- Changes in hygiene, memory, or how the house is kept
- A spouse or family caregiver who is exhausted, isolated, or unwell themselves
That last one matters as much as the others. Caregiver burnout is one of the most common reasons families seek help — and one of the best reasons to.
The daily activities check
Care professionals, doctors, and insurance companies all measure care needs the same way: through six basic activities of daily living. Go through them honestly — not “can they do it on a good day,” but “can they do it safely and reliably, every day, without help.”
- Bathing
Getting in and out of the tub or shower safely, washing thoroughly. Needing help looks like: skipping baths out of fear of falling, needing someone nearby “just in case,” or no longer washing hair or hard-to-reach areas.
- Dressing
Choosing appropriate clothes and putting them on, including buttons, zippers, and shoes. Needing help looks like: wearing the same clothes repeatedly, clothes on inside out, or giving up on anything with fasteners.
- Toileting
Getting to and from the toilet and managing hygiene afterward. Needing help looks like: accidents because the bathroom is too far, nighttime difficulties, or avoiding fluids to avoid trips to the bathroom.
- Transferring
Moving safely between bed, chair, and standing. Needing help looks like: struggling to rise from a chair, needing to be pulled up, or staying in one place most of the day because moving feels risky.
- Eating
Feeding oneself once food is prepared. Needing help looks like: difficulty using utensils, trouble swallowing, or meals left mostly uneaten. Trouble preparing meals matters too — it is one of the most common early needs, even when eating itself is fine.
- Continence
Bladder and bowel control. Needing help looks like: accidents, hiding soiled clothing, or withdrawing from activities out of embarrassment.
- Supervision
Not on the standard list. Some people can physically do all six activities but cannot safely be alone — because of memory loss, confusion, wandering, or leaving the stove on. Needing supervision due to cognitive changes is a care need in its own right, and care providers and long-term care insurance treat it as one.