Red flags

Examples/clues

Fire

Smoking, kitchen safety

Wandering

Increased unexplained time away from home, leaving home at night

Inability to summon help

Using telephone, understanding emergency response system, eg, Lifeline

Risk of falls/injuries

Abnormal gait, history of falls, bruises/injuries

Risk to others

Potential violence to spouse, caregiver, others, guns in home

Motor vehicle driving

Damage to vehicle, impaired judgment when driving

Narrow therapeutic index medications

Where missed or duplicated doses may have serious consequences (eg, insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, lithium, digoxin)