It is very difficult to know when a person is a danger to himself or to others. And if your father has no cognitive impairment, even if he cannot care for himself by your definition of proper care, your father has some right to autonomy—that is, the choice of how he lives even if he is at some risk.

There may be ways to assist your father by asking a neighbor to look in on him or asking a local senior center to provide a friendly visitor or even do some of the chores that would improve his living situation. In rare cases, such as when a person exhibits self-neglect or significant confusion, a family member may call Adult Protective Services to determine a person's need for a guardian.

One way to assist both of you would be to do an assessment of what your father can and cannot do. With this information, it is easier to know what would be life threatening and what can be accommodated. If he can no longer cook, he may still be able to microwave prepared meals or have meals delivered, for example. If you are afraid of him falling, you can do an assessment of the environment for any problems such as stairs, throw rugs, and extension cords and then take precautions. Assessment guides may be available from your local Cooperative Extension office, public library, and the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP).