Spot the Signs this Christmas
When visiting Mum or Dad this Christmas, use our checklist to see if they could use a bit of help to remain independent.
Visiting loved ones at Christmas is something many of us look forward to. As your parents or other family members grow older, the festive season can also be a valuable opportunity to check in and see how they are managing at home. While you are spending time together, you may want to keep an eye out for any signs that your loved one could benefit from some extra support.
To make this easier, we have created a helpful checklist that families can use to get a clearer picture of how their loved one is doing.
The checklist covers key day to day areas such as:
- Home safety
Using appliances, managing stairs, locking doors - Scam awareness
Are they alert to potential scams and staying cautious? - General health
Are they taking medication, sleeping well, experiencing pain, or losing weight? - Personal hygiene
Do their hair, nails and clothing appear clean and well looked after? - Nutrition
Are they eating regular meals and drinking enough? Is food going out of date? - Home cleanliness
Are the kitchen and bathroom clean, are the curtains opened, is the bed being changed? - Life admin
Opening post, booking appointments, keeping up with social plans
Other key areas to pay attention to are:
- Memory & confusion
- Mobility & balance
- Eating habits
- Changes in hygiene or appearance
- Mood & social interactions
A sudden change in any of these areas can signal that a little extra support may be helpful to maintain your loved one’s independence. This checklist is designed to help you pause, consider what you are noticing, and gain a clearer understanding of their overall health and wellbeing.
At Home Instead, many families contact us only after a crisis has happened. This might be an illness that led to a long hospital stay and reduced mobility, or a fall that has taken longer than expected to recover from. Situations like these can mean that someone who was once fully independent now needs several visits a day that they would prefer not to rely on. Through our experience of supporting adults of all ages, we have found that beginning the care conversation earlier and introducing support gradually can often prevent these crisis points.
Our Care Professionals are trained to recognise changes in their clients and provide practical support. They can help ensure medication is taken regularly, observe mobility changes that may increase the risk of falls and recommend helpful equipment, encourage healthy eating, assist with personal care, and so much more. Sometimes even a few hours of support each week can delay the need for more intensive care and gently introduce the idea of having a regular visitor to help with day to day tasks.
You can download the checklist at www.careconversations.co.uk or request a copy by emailing [email protected]
If you would like to talk about how we can support your loved one, please call us today.
