Signs your loved one may need home care and how to talk about care with them
Published: 29/11/2023
For most of us, there will come a time when our loved one or family member requires care. It is often a difficult and daunting time, however, when the warning signs are spotted, prevention measures can be put in place earlier to support your loved one to remain living in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.
The upcoming Festive period is often a time when family members realise that their loved one needs some additional support, but how do you spot this and how do you broach the subject with them?
In our latest blog, we talk about the common signs that make us realise that it may be time to consider home care.
These common signs are often:
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Maintaining personal hygiene
A change in appearance or body odour may be a sign that your loved one needs support with their personal care. There are different reasons why someone may be struggling to maintain their usual personal hygiene standards; they no longer have the physical capabilities; their mental health impacting their personal care routine or they have simply forgotten to wash and clean themselves daily.
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Changes in weight
If there is a 10% difference or more in body weight, this can be a sign that there is a problem. They may not be eating enough and losing weight as a result. This could be caused by difficulty preparing meals, feelings of loneliness or isolation impacting their appetite or forgetting to eat at mealtimes. Visiting loved ones during mealtimes will give you a good indication of their eating habits and whether they might need some extra support.
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Physical and mental changes
Physical changes can include bruises or bumps from falls, weight changes, changes in personal hygiene or all of the above. Mental changes can include mood swings, withdrawal from social situations, or displaying new behaviours that seem out of character. Mental health problems can be experienced by people of all ages, so it is important to check in with your loved ones regularly to understand how they are feeling.
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Struggling to perform daily tasks
Another key sign that your loved one may need care is that they are unable to carry out daily tasks. You might notice that their house is becoming untidy, or they are struggling with making a cup of tea, showering, getting dressed or preparing meals. If this is the case, they could benefit from the support of a homecare plan.
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Memory loss
Memory loss is typically associated with dementia. Although it can be a symptom of dementia, that is not always the case. If you are worried your loved one has dementia, it is best to seek advice from your GP.
When treated early, people that are living with dementia can be supported to maintain their independence for longer. Remembering to take medication can sometimes be an issue, which often causes anxiety and can cause an individual’s health to decline.
Who is most likely to need care services?
As adults age, it is more likely that they may need some additional support. Older adults may require help with day-to-day tasks, or they may need some companionship and a friendly face to share a cuppa.
This also gives peace of mind to families, knowing that someone is coming in on a regular basis to check that all is well.
Everyone can benefit from companionship when they’re feeling lonely, and can benefit from home care when they have less family members around to support them.
Starting a conversation about care
Having a conversation with your loved one about care can be daunting, but it is important that you speak openly so you can discuss the options available together.
- Avoid telling them directly that they need support, but openly discuss anything you have noticed and try to move the conversation onto the possibility of having additional help and support.
- They need to feel empowered to make their own choices and feel that the overall decision is theirs. If they are reluctant, try to find out why.
- Encourage them to remain independent. They may feel that their independence will be taken away, but this is certainly not the case with the right care provider, as they will support them to remain as independent as possible.
How can I check the quality of care services?
- The Care Quality Commission regulates all care providers who assist with personal care. You can find a list of these by postcode on their website cqc.org.uk
- homecare.co.uk provide a list of care providers by area and show reviews posted by clients and family members
- carechoices.co.uk also provide a list of providers within your area
What type of care services are there?
There are lots of different types of care services. The level of care that is required will depend on the individual needs of your loved one. Typically, when the signs that someone needs care are identified early on, people can be supported to remain in their own homes with the help of quality homecare services. At Right at Home Welwyn, Hatfield & St Albans, our services cover but are not limited to:
How can Right at Home Welwyn, Hatfield & St Albans help with homecare?
We can assist loved ones to carrying on doing the things they enjoy, whilst remaining in their own home. Whether that’s assisting with personal care so that they are ready to go out to a community event, ensuring that they continue to have a cooked nutritious meal or doing light housework so that their home remains clean, clutter-free and a safe environment.
What happens next?
If your loved one is happy to have an initial chat about receiving care, we would be delighted to speak with you about about how we can help.
You can call us on 01707 682100 or email [email protected]
Our manager, Jackie, will arrange to come to meet you and discuss care and support needs with your loved one so that they are fully included in any decisions. It’s a no-obligation visit, but if you do decide to bring us on board, she will then write a Care Plan with your loved ones daily outcomes and create a visit routine to incorporate those so that they get the person-centred care they want. Our care visits last a minimum of 1 hour, which gives time for your loved one and their carers to get to know one another and build a trusting relationship.
If you think your loved one may need support or for more information on our homecare services, please contact a member of our friendly office team on 01707 682100.
