Knowing when it’s time to move your aging loved one to an assisted living community can be a difficult decision. They may never want to leave their own home, but you want them to be safe and receive the care they need. How do you know when it’s the right time?

Here are four signs to look for in your aging parent that it may be time to move to an assisted living community:

1. Recent falls or accidents. Did your loved one have a recent fall, and no one was there to help them? How long did it take for someone to come and help? It’s likely an accident like this will occur again.
2. Cooking incidents or rotten food. Check their fridge when you visit, is there moldy or rotten food? You should also look for burned pots and pans from them having a cooking incident.
3. Hygiene issues. Have you noticed a change in their odor or are they refusing to shower each day? Pay attention to how often they’re taking care of their personal hygiene.
4. Change in appearance. Your aging parent may not be as tidy with their appearance as they once were. They may wear unclean clothes, not brush their hair or put on makeup like they once did.

If your loved one is showing any of these signs, it may be time to have the talk with them about moving to an assisted living community.