(From left) Lucila Oblena, 99, pours herself a glass of Diet Coke while enjoying a light lunch with senior companion Dorothy Jones, 78, at Oblena’s home in Dallas on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Dorothy Jones served as a volunteer through The Senior Source’s Senior Companion Program, which matches elderly adults needing companionship with people 55 and older who want to help.
Juan Figueroa/Staff Photographer
Watching a parent or loved one grow older often means navigating difficult decisions without a clear road map.
Most older adults want to remain in their homes or communities as they age, but balancing a loved one’s independence with concerns about their safety isn’t always easy.
Here’s what North Texas families should know about recognizing when an older adult needs more support, how to reduce safety risks at home and accessing local caregiving resources.
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How do I know if it’s safe for an older adult to live alone?
Many older adults want to remain in their own home or community for as long as possible because they believe it offers the best quality of life, according to the state’s strategic plan for aging.
In Dallas, more than 150,000 residents are aged 65 and older, including more than 46,000 who live alone, according to the 2025 annual report from the Dallas Senior Affairs Commission. According to the state’s strategic plan for aging, the number of Texans ages 60 and older increased by 48% while the state’s overall population grew by 19% overall.
Related: Residents aged 65 and older are fastest-growing population in the city
Families should watch for noticeable changes in an older adult’s mobility or ability to complete everyday tasks, said Renae Perry, chief operating officer for The Senior Source. The Senior Source is a local nonprofit that supports older adults and their families in the Dallas area through a range of programs, tools and services.
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The Senior Source encourages families to evaluate an older adult’s instrumental activities of daily living, which include everyday tasks that allow someone to live independently:
Managing finances, including paying bills and banking.
Shopping for groceries and other household necessities.
Planning and preparing meals.
Cleaning the home and doing laundry.
Driving or using public transportation.
Taking medications correctly.
Communicating by phone or other devices.
Sudden changes in an older adult’s behavior, such as having trouble getting around or taking a fall, could be a sign they may need more help or may not be okay on their own. Any major changes, Perry said, should first be evaluated by a physician because other factors, such as infections or medication issues, can sometimes cause temporary cognitive changes.
Joy Hinkelman, executive director of The Wellness Center for Older Adults, said keeping up with preventative health screenings and maintenance can also assist in keeping older adults healthy and independent. The Wellness Center for Older Adults is a local nonprofit that offers health services, counseling and social service programs for older adults and their caregivers.
How can older adults make their home safer?
Maintaining mobility is crucial in helping an older adult remain independent and live safely at home, Perry said, adding that small home modifications can make a significant difference. A fall can lead to injuries that can jeopardize an older adult’s independence.
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Perry recommends families use The Senior Source’s home safety checklist to identify fall risks and other home safety hazards before an accident occurs.
The checklist recommends simple changes that can reduce fall risk, including:
Decluttering high-traffic areas like hallways or around kitchen counters.
Checking that rugs and runners stay put when walked on to avoid tripping.
Adding non-skid surfaces to a shower or tub.
Installing handrails in bathrooms and along stairs.
“Solutions like that sometimes can help people prolong or continue to live at home longer,” Perry said.
Having a social network is also important to living independently, Perry said, especially for older adults whose family lives farther away. Caregivers can also consider using technology to monitor a loved one’s health or offer medication reminders.
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Depending on an older adult’s needs, Perry said services such as in-home health care or assistance can also help someone continue living safely at home.
Related: Caring for elderly parents at home is about more than the culture of Hispanic families
What local resources are available for older adults and caregivers?
Dallas-area families can find support through the city’s Senior Services and the Dallas Area Agency on Aging, which both help older adults access assistance programs and community services.
The Senior Source’s caregiver support program is open to caregivers of all ages across Dallas and Collin counties caring for loved ones who are 50 or older, Perry said.
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One service offered as part of the program includes care consultations for caregivers, which Perry said can be especially helpful when multiple adult children have different opinions about how to care for a parent.
“We help families get on the same page when it comes to caring for a loved one,” Perry said. “If a child is going to be in a caregiving role, they need to have some idea of what your wishes are.”
The Senior Source also offers additional resources and classes for older adults, such as utility bill assistance, Medicare counseling and financial safety guidance.
For older adults in Collin County and the surrounding areas, the Wellness Center for Older Adults provides preventative health services for free or at a reduced cost for adults 55 and older, including blood pressure and blood sugar checks, ear cleanings and foot care. The center also offers health education for topics like fall prevention and home safety, as well as assistance with medication management.
“Trimming and filing their nails sounds really simple, but it’s very important, especially for our older adults that are diabetic,” Hinkelman said. “Those of us that are younger just take those things for granted.”
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Hinkelman said the wellness center was created after a nurse recognized a gap in affordable services for adults between age 55 and Medicare eligibility at 65.
The Wellness Center for Older Adults also runs a volunteer-based program, Project Independence, that provides short-term, non-medical assistance to adults 60 years old or older who were recently hospitalized or had a decline in health. Services can include transportation to a doctor’s appointment, errands and well-checks for six to eight weeks.
“This allows the loved one, the spouse or the child to not have to miss work after their loved one has been discharged from the hospital because they have a trusted, vetted individual that will transport their person where they need to be,” Hinkelman said.
Families looking for additional support can find more information through theseniorsource.org or wellnesscenteronline.org.