Signs Your Loved One Needs In-Home Care (Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham Edition)
If you are noticing a change in Mum or Dad's general health and demeanour, it may be time for in-home care. Here’s your guide to spotting the signs.
6 Signs That Your Loved One Would Benefit from In-Home Care (Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham Edition)
If little things are starting to add up and you can’t pin them down to an ‘off day’, Mum or Dad could benefit from a conversation about care. Not in the traditional care home sense, but care that works in their home to support their well-being (in-home care, or home care as we call it).
So, how do you know if you need to have a conversation about in-home care? What are the signs they need support?
We’d suggest looking out for a combination of:
1. General difficulty with daily tasks
If they are struggling with basic daily tasks like personal hygiene, cooking or household chores, it could be a sign that they need assistance. In-home care can offer support for some or all of their daily essentials.
2. Finding it harder to get around
If they are struggling to move about easily and are looking for reasons not to leave the house, then this could be a sign they need mobility assistance. While you can start with mobility aids, they may benefit further from the support of a trained care professional. At Home Instead, you’ll get personalised home care that focuses on supporting Mum and Dad’s mobility and independence.
[You should also read our guide on avoiding falls around the home, which will support you with ideas for a mobility-first home.]
It is also worthwhile discussing changes in mobility with your GP to rule out any underlying health issues.
3. Forgetfulness, brain fog and confusion
If important tasks or dates are being continually forgotten (particularly bills, medication, or appointments), Mum or Dad may be struggling with early signs of dementia. Here’s how home care can support a dementia diagnosis. In-home care can also support tasks like medication management and transportation to appointments.
When confusion becomes a regular problem, again, this may be a sign of dementia. We can offer in-home care that provides daytime or night-time assistance, giving you additional options as a primary caregiver.
In any situation where you think there may be dementia, it is essential to visit your GP to get a full diagnosis and prognosis. This will give you both a clear understanding of what’s happening, what to expect and ideas for what you can do.
4. A loss of appetite or weight
Generally speaking, if Mum or Dad is experiencing a loss of appetite or weight, you should talk with your GP immediately. In situations where there may be a dementia diagnosis, or you find they simply need help preparing nutritious meals (because hey, we all fall out of love with cooking as we get older!), then Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham can help. Our trained care professionals can prepare a weekly menu, cooking fresh and balanced meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
5. A decline in general well-being
If you have noticed that an ‘off day’ has turned into a week or a month and Mum or Dad is experiencing a decrease in energy, a lower mood and a general decline in mental health, then home care or live-in care can help. Through Home Instead, you’ll find that both services offer a companionship element designed to enhance quality of life. We’ll offer Mum and Dad plenty of opportunities to interact socially and in physical activity. Both are particularly beneficial for improving a client’s mental state.
How to Have the Care Conversation
Once you have identified that Mum or Dad need support, your next step is having the care conversation. A casual chat about care can help you establish what you need and markers for service providers that might be a good fit.
In-home care is a great place to start your care journey because it is flexible. If Mum or Dad need occasional help, home care can help. If they require a gradual increase in service provision, in-home care can help. And as they progress, you can adapt your services to work with you to provide ongoing care from the people Mum and Dad already know and trust.
But how do you have a care conversation without upsetting Mum or Dad or having them brush it off?
The key to having a stress-free and positive chat is in how you approach it. Here are our three tips for starting the conversation off on a positive footing.
1. Timing: Understandably, Mum and Dad will have strong feelings about receiving care. Picking how and when you have your initial chat will help you both have an open, honest and engaged discussion about what’s on offer. The ‘best’ moment may not always be a planned moment. It might appear when you discuss the differences you have noticed.
2. Focus on independence and quality of life: One of the biggest fears we have is losing our freedom and autonomy. If your conversation is pitched with genuine help that fosters physical independence, it is more likely to be heard. Remember, in-home care isn’t about taking independence off the table; it is about supporting it. It’s not about them giving up the things they love; it’s about assisting them so they can still do those things.
3. Most importantly, make it clear that they get a say: One of the biggest obstacles to getting older is the realisation that you will become dependent on others. That’s why Mum and Dad must feel heard in these types of discussions. Feeling included and having a sense of control helps them maintain their mental independence. Their sense of self. That’s incredibly important to both how they handle this conversation and how they receive care (and their mental state) over the long term.
Here is a deeper guide to the care conversation.
Okay, So You've Had Your Conversation About In-home Care. What Now?
Now, it’s time to consider your local service options. At Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham, we provide a comprehensive home care service. Here’s what we offer locally:
- Home Care at Home Instead includes personal care, home and housekeeping, meal preparation, medication management, day and night care and companionship services.
- We also offerLive-in Care on a part-time or full-time basis for individuals with varying levels of dependence, from low to high.
- Specialist Care is a service that covers long-term conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s and cancer.
- Respite care provides care coverage for planned or emergency care situations.
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (Ascot), Surrey Heath (Camberley), and Wokingham Borough Council (Wokingham) may be able to provide help with suppliers for wheelchairs, stairlifts, and other equipment, including personal alarms.
Getting Started with Home Instead is Simple
We’ve refined our process to 3 simple steps.
Step 1 – Call us on 01276 903106, and our team of expert carers will advise you on our in-home care services.
Step 2 – We’ll arrange a complimentary home visit to meet you both and demonstrate how we can tailor our service offer to meet your family’s specific needs.
Step 3 – Sign up, and we’ll arrange a pre-service home visit so you can both meet your team.
Ready to explore in-home care? Contact our team today on 01276 903106.
