How to Tell When an Older Relative's Care Needs Are Changing

It’s not always obvious when an elderly parent is struggling at home. More often, you start noticing little things: maybe they’ve forgotten to take their medication a few times, and there isn’t much food in the fridge, or they don’t sound quite like themselves when you call.

On their own, these changes might not seem like much. But when they start adding up, they may be signs of changing care needs. What you’re seeing may mean that your parent isn’t managing everyday life as easily as they once did.

The difficulty is that these changes often happen gradually. Your parent may tell you they’re perfectly fine even when you’re starting to have concerns. That’s why some families don’t start thinking about how to assess care needs for an elderly parent until something more serious happens, such as a fall or an unexpected hospital stay.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to start the conversation. If you can recognise the signs that your elderly parent needs more help early, you’ll have more time to talk things through with them and understand what they’re finding difficult. From there, you can decide together what kind of support might help.

So, what should you be looking out for? Here are some of the signs that an elderly parent needs more support.

When you visit, take a look around and see if the home feels different from how they would normally keep it. Pay attention to changes that seem like a departure from the usual:

• Unopened post starting to pile up or overdue bills that they would normally deal with promptly
• Very little fresh food in the fridge or food that has gone well past its use-by date
• A kitchen or bathroom that isn’t as clean as your parent would usually keep it
• Laundry building up or your parent wearing the same clothes for several days
• A garden or houseplants being neglected when your parent previously enjoyed looking after them
• More clutter, loose rugs or other potential trip hazards around stairs and walkways

One of these things on its own doesn’t necessarily mean your parent needs more support. After all, everyone gets behind with household jobs occasionally. However, these changes may indicate that your parent may be having difficulty staying on top of their daily tasks.

You should also pay attention to changes in your parent themselves if you’re wondering when does an elderly parent need more care. As their needs change, things that they’ve always managed without much thought, from preparing meals to getting dressed, can become more difficult.

Keep an eye out for:

• Unexplained weight loss because they skip meals or rely mainly on quick snacks instead of regular meals
• Changes in their grooming, such as unwashed clothes and unbrushed hair or frequently skipping shaving
• Confusion around medication, including missed doses or medication supplies that don’t match where they should be in the prescription schedule
• New bruises or other injuries that could suggest your parent has fallen
• Difficulty standing up from a chair, using the stairs or walking steadily
• Health concerns going untreated or appointments with the GP being missed

You don’t need to assume the worst if you spot one of these signs. Instead, use what you’ve noticed to start a conversation. Ask if something has become difficult and offer to arrange a little extra help to make their day easier.

How your parent talks and socialises, and even how they spend their time, can also tell you a lot about how they’re managing. You might notice them:

• Becoming quieter or more withdrawn and losing interest in hobbies or social activities they previously enjoyed
• Staying at home more often or giving up driving and not making other arrangements for getting around
• Repeating the same questions or stories, or finding conversations harder to follow
• Forgetting appointments or recent events more frequently than they used to
• Feeling anxious when they’re alone or becoming particularly uneasy later in the day
• Having friends, neighbours, or other people who see them regularly mention that they’ve noticed a change too

If your parent is managing most practical tasks but spending too much time alone, they may not need someone to take over their daily routine. What they may need instead is more regular company. You could consider companionship home care, which aims to provide them with regular conversation while allowing them to continue living their day the way they prefer.

If you notice these signs in an older relative, sit with your family to reassess how you can keep supporting them without immediately assuming that they need a particular type of care.

If you’re wondering how to assess care needs for an elderly parent, connect with us here at Right At Home Central London.

If someone you love has:

• Come home from the hospital earlier than expected
• Fallen or become unwell suddenly
• Lost mobility overnight
• Been left without their usual caregiver
• Shown a worrying change in condition

Calling sooner rather than later can make the whole situation easier.

Crisis moments don’t have to be chaotic. Right at Home Central London can provide your family with urgent homecare in London. Call us at 020 3084 7333 or leave your details here, and our team will contact you.