Is it time? Quiet signs that a change in care may be near

Most families do not arrive at residential care with a single moment of clarity. They arrive after a long, gradual shift — missed medications, an unsteady afternoon walk, a phone call answered with confusion.

Common cues to listen for

• Meals that go uneaten or are repeated through the day
• Increasingly thin social contact
• Difficulty managing medications independently
• Subtle changes in personal grooming or housekeeping