Noticing the Little Things

Not Quite Themselves? Why We Notice — and Act

At Right at Home Telford, we believe that great care starts with noticing the little things.

It’s the quiet voice that says “Mum seemed more tired than usual today.”
It’s the familiar CareGiver who notices Dad hasn’t eaten as much today, or that he seems more confused than normal.

These subtle changes often signal that something’s not quite right — and that’s where our proactive approach makes all the difference.

A Simple Tool That Helps Us Stay One Step Ahead

We’ve always encouraged our CareGivers to communicate if they notice anything different. One of the tools we use to support this is called STOPandWATCH.

Each letter in STOPandWATCH stands for something our CareGivers are trained to look out for, like:

• S - Seems different than usual

• T - Talks or communicates less

• A - Ate less - reduced appetite 

• H - Help with walking or transferring

It’s a simple checklist that helps our team pick up on early warning signs that someone might be becoming unwell. Our CareGivers do more than just provide support — they build real relationships. That means they’re often the first to spot when something isn’t quite right.

It might be a subtle change in routine, a quiet comment, or just a sense that someone doesn’t seem themselves. When that happens, our CareGivers don’t wait — they share those observations with our office team, along with detailed descriptions that paint a clear picture of what they’ve noticed.

From there, we take action. Whether it’s speaking with a GP, getting input from the district nursing team, or simply monitoring the situation more closely, we work quickly and carefully to make sure the person gets the right support. 

This kind of early, joined-up response is often what helps us prevent things from getting worse. In many cases, it means we can avoid hospital visits altogether — because we’ve acted early, communicated clearly, and worked closely with health professionals to keep your loved one safe at home.

Why It Matters to Families

When you trust us to care for a loved one, you’re trusting us to see them. Not just their care needs, but the whole person — their personality, habits, mood, and day-to-day wellbeing.

Because our visits are typically one hour or more, our CareGivers get to know the people they support really well. They know when something isn't right and with tools like STOPandWATCH, they know how to report it, and who to tell.

This level of attentiveness helps us catch things early — whether it’s a potential infection or simply needing a little more support on that day. For families, it’s reassurance that someone is really looking out for their loved one.

Continuous Learning, Continuous Care

In care, no two days are ever quite the same — and that’s why we never stop learning.

We believe that the best CareGivers are those who stay curious and keep developing their skills. Whether it’s through formal training, reflective conversations, or simply sharing insights during team meetings, we’re always looking for ways to continually enhance the care and support we provide. That’s why we welcomed Nina from Shropshire Partners in Care for a refresher session on recognising the early signs of health deterioration. While tools like STOPandWATCH are already embedded in our day-to-day care, revisiting them together as a team gives us the chance to pause, reflect, and continually sharpen our focus.

It’s never just about ticking training boxes — it’s about reinforcing what matters: staying alert, communicating well, and acting early when someone needs help. It’s also about giving our CareGivers the confidence to trust their instincts and know they’ll always be supported when they share information.

Because when we learn together, we care better — and your loved ones benefit from a team that’s always growing.

A Team That Truly Cares

At Right at Home Telford, we don’t see care as just tasks to complete. We see it as a relationship built on trust, empathy, and vigilance. That’s why we choose CareGivers who are not only trained and competent, but also kind, observant, and tuned in to the people they support.

Our families regularly tell us they feel confident knowing their loved one isn’t just being looked after — they’re being looked out for.

If you’d like to learn more about our home care services, or how we work alongside families and health professionals to keep people safe at home, please get in touch. We’re here to help.