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Help topics

The challenges of getting older, and what to do about each one.

For every topic: the signs worth noticing, sensible first steps, and who to call in Salt Lake County. Many of these programs are free.

Memory changes

People with memory loss often don't notice it themselves. Family members usually see it first.

Signs worth noticing

  • Asking the same question or telling the same story within a short time
  • Unpaid bills, late notices, or unusual purchases
  • Getting lost on familiar drives
  • Missed medications or appointments
  • Pulling back from hobbies, church, or friends
  • Being newly suspicious, irritable, or easily confused

First steps

  • Write down what you notice, with dates. A log helps the doctor.
  • Some causes of confusion are treatable, like medication side effects, infections, or thyroid or vitamin problems. Start with their doctor.
  • Raise it gently and privately, as a health check, not an accusation.
  • Get legal and financial papers in place while your parent can still sign them.

Who to call

Medicare & health

Plan choices change every year, and billing errors and Medicare fraud are common.

Signs worth noticing

  • Confusion about which plan they have or what it covers
  • Statements listing services they never received
  • Calls offering "free" braces, tests, or a new Medicare card
  • Several doctors prescribing without coordinating

First steps

  • Review the plan during each fall open enrollment period.
  • Keep one current list of medications, doses, and doctors.
  • Read Medicare Summary Notices and Explanations of Benefits each month.
  • Never give a Medicare number to an unexpected caller.

Who to call

Paying for care

Many families learn too late that Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care.

Questions to answer early

  • What income and savings are available each month?
  • Is there long-term care insurance? Where is the policy?
  • Is your parent a veteran or a veteran's surviving spouse?
  • Is the home the largest asset, and what are the options for it?

First steps

  • Make a simple monthly budget with your parent.
  • Ask Aging & Adult Services which programs they qualify for.
  • Talk to an elder law attorney before moving or gifting assets. Medicaid has look-back rules.

Programs to ask about

  • Medicaid Aging Waiver, in-home services for people 65+ who are Medicaid eligible, 385-468-3200 (county page)
  • The Alternatives Program (TAP), in-home help with income and asset limits, same number (county page)
  • Veteran-Directed Care, through a VA doctor or social worker (county page)

After a fall: hospital, rehab & coming home

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older. More than 1 in 4 fall each year, and one fall doubles the chance of another (CDC). Jeff's mother has had several falls that needed surgery, so this one is personal.

In the hospital, ask

  • "Is my parent admitted as an inpatient, or here under observation?" Observation days don't count toward the 3-day inpatient stay Medicare usually requires before it covers a skilled nursing or rehab facility (Medicare.gov).
  • "Who is the discharge planner or case manager?" Meet them early, not on the day of discharge.
  • "Will they need rehab, home health, or equipment like a walker or shower chair?"
  • "What caused the fall?" Ask for a medication review and a check of blood pressure, vision, and balance.

Before they come home

  • Set up a bedroom and bathroom on the main floor if stairs are hard.
  • Install grab bars and a raised toilet seat, and remove loose rugs and cords.
  • Line up someone to stay the first few nights, and a ride to follow-up visits.
  • Consider a medical alert button or a watch with fall detection.
  • Keep a list of every fall, with date, place, and what happened. Fewer than half of older adults tell their doctor they fell (CDC).
  • If falls keep happening, it may be time to talk about more help at home or assisted living. That's a conversation, not a failure.

Who to call

  • Fall prevention classes like Stepping On and Tai Chi for Arthritis through Active Aging, 385-468-3082
  • SL County Aging & Adult Services, in-home help and caregiver support after a hospital stay, 385-468-3200
  • Habitat for Humanity Critical Home Repair, grab bars, ramps, and safety repairs (income limits), 801-263-0136 ext. 211 (program page)
  • SHIP Medicare counselors, free help with rehab and home health coverage questions, 385-468-3200

Staying safe at home

Most people want to stay in their home. A few changes can make that safer for longer.

Signs worth noticing

  • A recent fall, or a fear of falling
  • Stairs, tubs, or entry steps that have become hard
  • Spoiled food, an unkempt house, or unopened mail
  • Deferred repairs like a leaking roof or broken railing

First steps

  • Walk the home together and look for trip hazards and poor lighting.
  • Add grab bars, railings on both sides of stairs, and night lights.
  • Ask the doctor about balance and a fall-risk review.
  • Get repair quotes in writing and never pay a door-to-door contractor in full up front.

Who to call

Choosing assisted living in Utah

Jeff's family may have to make this decision soon, so we're learning now, before a crisis. Here's how assisted living works in Utah and what to check before you sign.

Know the two license types

  • Type I: for residents who have stable health, need limited help with daily activities, and can get out of the building on their own in an emergency.
  • Type II: 24-hour personal and health care for residents who need more help, including people who need one person's help to get out in an emergency. Secure memory care units are licensed as Type II.
  • A nurse or doctor completes an assessment to decide which type fits (Utah DLBC levels of care).
  • After repeated falls, ask whether your parent will need the Type II level now or soon. Moving twice is hard.

Before you sign

  • Start looking before you need to. After a fall or hospital stay, families often have only days to choose. Touring a few places now gives you a short list.
  • Confirm the license and read recent inspection findings with the state licensing office (Utah DLBC).
  • Get the full monthly price in writing, including care-level fees, medication help, and yearly increases.
  • Ask what happens if needs increase, and when a resident would have to move out.
  • Visit twice, once unannounced, at a mealtime or in the evening.
  • Ask about staffing at night and how the facility responds to falls.
  • Medicare generally doesn't pay for assisted living (Medicare.gov). Families usually pay with savings, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, or proceeds from selling the home.
  • Utah's Medicaid New Choices Waiver can help pay for some people who already live long term in a licensed facility, including assisted living. It requires nursing-home level of care and a minimum length of stay (Utah Medicaid). Talk with an elder law attorney before moving assets.

Who to call

  • Utah DLBC, Facility Licensing, to confirm a license or ask about inspections, 801-273-2994
  • Long-Term Care Ombudsman, free advocate for residents of facilities, 385-468-3255 (program page)
  • New Choices Waiver, 801-538-6155, option 6
  • Utah Legal Services Senior Law Project, free for Salt Lake County residents 60+, 801-328-8891
  • Jeff Marchant, Realtor, if selling the family home will help pay for care, 801-255-8850. We'll always tell you up front when a real estate service is involved.

Housing, downsizing & moving

Where to live is one of the biggest decisions, and the move itself can be overwhelming.

Options to understand

  • Staying home with modifications or in-home help
  • 55+ communities and senior apartments
  • Assisted living (in Utah, licensed as Type I or Type II)
  • Memory care units for people with dementia
  • Skilled nursing for medical needs

First steps

  • Be honest about care needs today and in two years.
  • Tour more than one place and ask what's included in the monthly cost.
  • Decide what happens to the house before listing it: sell, rent, or keep in the family.
  • Start sorting belongings early. It's the most emotional part.

Who to call

Caregiver support

Caregivers often put their own health last. Help exists, and you qualify for more than you think.

Signs of burnout

  • Constant exhaustion or trouble sleeping
  • Missing work or your own medical care
  • Feeling resentful, isolated, or hopeless

First steps

  • List every task you do in a week, then ask siblings to take specific items.
  • Schedule regular breaks before you need them.
  • Join a support group. Others have solved the problem you're facing.

Who to call

  • SL County Caregiver Support Program, respite, supplies, training, and support groups with no fees, 385-468-3280 (program page)
  • Neighborhood House Adult Day Center, daytime care including for dementia, sliding fee, 801-363-4589 (program page)

Driving & getting around

Giving up the keys can feel like giving up independence. A plan for rides makes the conversation easier.

Signs worth noticing

  • New dents or scrapes on the car
  • Getting lost, or near-misses
  • Friends or neighbors voicing concern

First steps

  • Ride along and observe before you raise it.
  • Ask their doctor to weigh in. It takes pressure off family.
  • Line up ride options before asking anyone to stop driving.

Ride options

  • Rides for Wellness, rides to medical appointments for county residents 60+ with no other way to get there, 385-468-3200 (program page)
  • UTA Reduced Fare for riders 65+ on TRAX, buses, and FrontRunner (rideuta.com)

Loneliness & staying connected

Isolation affects health and makes people easier targets for scammers looking for someone to talk to.

Signs worth noticing

  • Rarely leaving the house
  • A new "friend" met online or by phone who never meets in person
  • Losing a spouse or close friend recently

First steps

  • Set a regular call or visit schedule among family.
  • Visit a senior center together the first time.
  • Look for volunteer roles that use their skills.

Where to go

  • Salt Lake County Senior Centers, free membership for adults 60+, with meals, classes, and activities at centers across the valley, 385-468-3200 (center list). A Virtual Senior Center is also offered.

Facing more than one of these at once?

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