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When someone you love starts to change, it can be hard to know what is normal, what needs care, and what’s an emergency.
Some changes can be part of aging. But sudden, unsafe, or serious changes should be checked as soon as possible. If you’re concerned about someone you care for, please call 911 or seek medical care immediately.
Additional warning signs
More sudden changes that call for immediate care
Different conditions can have different warning signs. Sudden changes can also be caused by pain, infection, dehydration, constipation, or medication side effects. Get help right away if there is any risk of self-harm, a major safety issue, or a sudden change in thinking or behavior.
Mood Changes That Feel Serious
Depression doesn’t always look like sadness. In older adults, it might show up as irritability, low energy, trouble sleeping, eating less, or pulling away from people and activities. Reach out for support if they talk about death, feel hopeless, stop managing basic needs, or seem unlike their usual self.
Worry, Fear, or Panic
Anxiety can look like restlessness, pacing, constant worry, or sudden distress. It’s more common in people with memory changes and can happen when they feel confused, overwhelmed, or unsafe.
Memory or Dementia Changes
A slow memory decline needs attention. A sudden change needs help right away.
Call a doctor if they have new confusion, such as getting lost, wandering, falling often, not recognizing loved ones, or becoming suddenly fearful or agitated.
Alcohol, Medicine, or Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
SUD’s can be hard to notice in older adults. Watch for more falls, slurred speech, confusion, poor hygiene, appetite shifts, mood swings, or defensiveness when asked about drinking or pills.
Get help right away if you suspect an overdose, blackouts, repeated falls, sudden confusion, or mixing alcohol with sleep, pain, or anxiety medicine.
Other Signs to Look For
Unsafe driving, new wandering, missed medications, not eating or drinking, frequent falls, or trouble with bathing, walking, or daily care all deserve a closer look.
Signs your loved one may need urgent support
Trust what you see. You know your loved one best.
You might be wondering if you are overreacting, but if something feels wrong, it is okay to ask for help.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Help
- Talk about suicide, death wishes or show warning signs of self-harm
- Have sudden confusion or a big change in thinking (e.g much more disorganized or scattered than usual)
- Act very out of character or aggressively
- Show extreme fear, panic, or dangerous behavior
- See or hear things that aren’t there
- Believe someone is out to harm them
- Fall often or can’t walk safely
- Won’t eat, drink, or take prescribed medicine
- May have overdosed or mixed alcohol with certain medicines
If there’s any danger of harm to themselves or others, call 911.
For mental health or a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
For substance use support, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Other Resources
Want more information? Check out our related resources.
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When someone you love starts to change, it can be hard to know what is normal, what needs care, and what’s an emergency.
Some changes can be part of aging. But sudden, unsafe, or serious changes should be checked as soon as possible. If you’re concerned about someone you care for, please call 911 or seek medical care immediately.
Is this just growing old, or is this something more serious? How do I know when someone I love needs more help?
When someone you love starts acting differently, it can be hard to know what to make of it. While some changes can be normal with age, those that are out of character, getting worse, or affecting safety, independence, or relationships deserve a closer look.
You deserve care too
Caregiving takes ongoing emotional, physical, and mental effort. As rewarding as it can be, if you don’t have the support and tools for yourself, the day-to-day demands can quickly impact your health. When left unaddressed, the stress of caregiving can lead to long-term risks for depression, anxiety, sleep issues, chronic health conditions, and relationship strain.
When it comes to treatment, there’s more you have control over than you might think
Sometimes getting a diagnosis can feel like a relief, and other times it can feel crippling. With Author Health, you won’t need to wander around looking for answers anymore. We’re here to give you support and peace of mind so you can feel more like yourself and less defined by your diagnosis.
Maybe it’s just part of getting older. Maybe it’s something more.
Aging can bring changes. Ttaking a little longer to remember a name or needing extra reminders can be expected. But other changes deserve a closer look, especially when they start to affect your daily life, safety, relationships, or independence. If you or someone you love feels more forgetful, withdrawn, anxious, or a little off, Author Health can help you sort through what may be going on and get the care you need to feel like yourself again.
I’ve been feeling different lately. How do I know when to ask for help?
Everyone has an off day here and there, but when changes in someone’s mood, memory, or behavior are new, don’t go away, or are drastically out of character, it starts to impact daily life. If you’ve been feeling like something isn’t quite right, it never hurts to reach out to a loved one, your doctor, or a specialist.
You can feel like yourself again sooner than you might think
Whether you or someone you care for has been feeling or acting differently lately, you don’t have to face it alone. Author Health can help you find out what’s causing the changes you’re experiencing and find solutions so you can feel your best.