Spotting The Signs That An Older Loved One May Need Home Care

The natural process of aging brings about steady changes in physical condition, mental abilities and body movement. The onset of these changes happens gradually until the person reaches a point where they hesitate to request assistance. The ability to detect early warning signs becomes essential for family members and friends who wish to provide care. Home Instead Sutton Coldfield delivers individualised home care services in Sutton Coldfield and we strongly advocate for early identification of care requirements.

The following blog presents typical indicators which show your elderly family member needs home care assistance together with guidance on starting the conversation and our support services.

● The prevention of accidents together with falls becomes possible through early detection.
● The prevention of health decline becomes possible through early detection of dehydration and malnutrition and other conditions.
● The person can maintain their current residence for an extended period.
● Emotional support and maintaining their dignity through this process.

The process enables families to create suitable support systems while the support system exists to help people maintain their independence rather than take it away.

Signs That Indicate An Older Person Needs Home Care Support

The following list presents observable indicators which you should monitor for your loved one.

Multiple signs appearing together indicate the need to seek additional support services.

1. Changes in Personal Hygiene and Self-Care
● The person shows no interest in bathing or washing their body or grooming themselves.
● The person repeats wearing the same set of clothes multiple times.

● The person shows no interest in caring for their hair or dental needs or nail health.
● The person faces challenges when trying to put on clothes and secure buttons and zips and laces.
● The person shows signs of weakened strength and unstable balance and reduced energy levels for personal care activities.

2. Mobility Difficulties Increased Risk of Falls
● The person walks with reduced speed and uses furniture for support while moving.
● The person bruises and bumps on their body.
● The person shows fear when using stairs or shows reluctance to leave their walks with an unsteady or unstable gait pattern.
● The person shows signs of recent accidents through visible home.
● The home environment becomes dangerous for people with declining mobility unless they receive appropriate modifications and support.

3. Trouble Managing Medications and Appointments
● The person fails to take their prescribed medication at the correct times or forgets to take their medications.
● The person shows confusion about their prescription medications and their prescribed dosage amounts.
● The person forgets to attend medical appointments and struggles to maintain appointment schedules.
● The person mixes different medications together and fails to obtain new prescriptions when needed.
● Older adults face a high risk of medication errors which serve as indicators for requiring structured assistance.

4. Changes in Eating, Weight or Nutrition
● Sudden weight loss or gain.
● The person eats less food than usual or more food than usual during meals.
● The person faces challenges with food preparation and grocery shopping and handling kitchen responsibilities.
● The person depends on pre-prepared meals and ready-to-eat foods which frequently lack essential nutrients.
● Proper nutrition serves as the foundation for maintaining physical strength and resistance.

5. Decline in the Home Environment Daily Tasks
● The home environment shows signs of neglect through dirty dishes and unmanaged laundry and dust accumulation and clutter.

● The person leaves their mail unattended while their bills remain unpaid.
● The person shows no interest in home safety but fails to address problems with lighting and trip hazards.
● The person faces challenges when performing shopping tasks and handling waste disposal and maintaining household cleanliness.
● The person faces an overwhelming situation with housekeeping duties which they cannot handle independently.

6. Memory, Cognition and Confusion
● The person keeps asking the same questions over and over again.
● The person becomes disoriented when navigating through places they know well.
● The person faces problems handling financial matters and paying bills and counting money.
● The person experiences sudden mood swings together with increased irritability and anxiety.
● The person shows confusion about their current time and location and their exact position.
● Early dementia symptoms or cognitive decline can be managed effectively through additional supervision and proper care.

7. Social Withdrawal, Loneliness or Mood Change
● The person stops accepting social invitations while showing reluctance to participate in social activities.
● The person expresses feelings of loneliness and boredom and purposelessness to others.
● The person experiences more frequent episodes of depression and anxiety and low mood.
● The person shows no interest in activities they used to enjoy and their favourite pastimes.
● Social isolation leads to faster deterioration but people need emotional and social help to prevent this.

The Process of Starting the Discussion

The process of discussing home care with someone you care about requires caution. If you would like to know more about how to structure these conversations, Home Instead Sutton Coldfield are here to help at 0121 323 4200.