How to spot when a relative needs a little extra help

We’re often asked how to spot the main signs that an elderly relative might a little extra help at home, or an increased level of care?

Usually, the first inkling that someone is struggling is that they’re not looking after themselves and their home as well as they used to. That might be less frequent bathing, not eating properly or an untidy home that was previously spotless. In the first instance, here’s a checklist of changes you can look out for to help you determine what help, if any, your loved one might need.

Physical changes:

• Noticeable weight loss that might be due to poor diet, difficulty cooking, eating or food shopping
• A decline in appearance, grooming habits and/or personal care
• Bruises, wounds, or other marks on their body that could indicate a fall or problems walking or moving around the home
• Noticeable burns on the skin could indicate problems with cooking/boiling a kettle
• Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping for most of the day

Behavioural changes:

• Lack of drive or motivation, and loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Difficulty keeping track of time
• Failure to return phone calls to friends and family
• Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
• Increased agitation leading to verbal/physical abusive behaviours

Around the home:

• Dirty house and/or extreme clutter, unkempt garden, overflowing bins
• Stacks of unopened mail, late payment notices, unpaid bills, or calls from debt collectors or utilities being turned off
• Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away. Little or no fresh, healthy food or overall low food supply
• Stained or wet furniture or carpets. Urine odour in house
• Noticeable burn marks on pots and pans that could indicate food has been left unattended while cooking or reheating
• Signs of unsafe driving, such as dents and scratches
• Uncollected prescriptions

Warning signals:
Here are some of the things to look out for that might indicate there’s something more serious:

• Forgetting to take medication or taking incorrect dosages
• Missing important appointments.
• Consistent memory lapses, increased confusion, and/or loss of reasoning skills
• Consistent poor judgment (e.g. falling for scams / sales pitches /giving away money)
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Frequently misplacing items and/or frequently getting lost when walking or driving
• Repetitive speech patterns and/or inability to complete sentences
• Changes in personality or behaviour

Of course, we always advise speaking with a GP in the first instance to check for medical problems, and to change or receive new medications. However, if you’d like some friendly advice about the kind of in-home care we can offer, call our helpful and knowledgeable customer care team.

And if you do decide that you’d like to investigate in-home care for your loved one, we have full Covid-secure measures in place; more than 90% of our carers have received the first and/or second Covid-19 vaccine shot, and are fully equipped with PPE and the correct protocols to keep our clients, and themselves, safe.

We are here to help.  To find out more about Nobilis, speak with one of our knowledgeable advisers, who will be able to explain how our in-home care can be transformative. Call 03333 444880 or email enquiries@nobilis.co.uk