How to tell if your spouse needs care at home
Published: 08/12/2022
Knowing when it's the right time to consider getting professional care at home for your spouse can be challenging. Often, people don't want to admit they need help, so your spouse may be trying to hide the signs. If you are concerned, in the first instance, you could talk to them to see if they are open about any problems they may be having. But if this is not an option, then below are some key things you can look out for.
If you answer yes to one or more of the following questions, it might be time to start looking at the care at home options available to you.
1. Have you noticed a change in their hygiene care?
The decline in someone's abilities as they get older can be slow and subtle, therefore, harder to notice. But a lack of care and attention regarding their hygiene can be a crucial indicator. You might have seen them showering or bathing less often or not changing their clothes as frequently as they used to, and these are all signs that they may need some additional help at home.
2. Have you noticed a change in their weight?
Have you noticed recently that your spouse has lost weight or seems less interested in their meals? Paying attention to this is important as good nutrition strengthens their immune system reducing the risk of infections. Therefore, it’s important that they eat regularly and healthily. Taste, smell, and appetite can change with age, so if eating has become less enjoyable for them it is easier to neglect it. This can lead to them losing interest in eating, so they may need reminding to eat regularly. Home care can help with meal planning, preparation, and shopping to ensure plenty of healthy food is in the fridge and that regular meals are served.
3. Are they finding it harder to manoeuvre around your home?
You may have noticed that your spouse is walking slower or finding it harder when carrying out their regular activities, like getting up from a chair, climbing the stairs, or putting on their shoes. Sometimes the change in activities such as these can be so gradual that it can be challenging to determine. Still, once changes are recognised, they should be acted on so they don't pose a risk. Care at home services can also help minimise risks by carrying out risk assessments and ensuring that the home environment is adapted to support your spouse's safety.
4. Have you noticed that they seem more forgetful or confused?
Forgetfulness is often one of the first signs that something may have changed with your spouse. Suppose they need help remembering important dates or appointments. In that case, this may indicate that they are not caring for themselves as they once did. Mood swings can also indicate change, so if your spouse seems irritable or depressed, it's essential to acknowledge that. There are processes that can be put in place to help.
5. Do you feel like it is hard to cope sometimes?
Lastly, it is easy to forget about your own needs when you are the primary caregiver for your spouse, but it is essential to consider how you are coping. When you pay attention to your needs and health, it will be easier to do the same with theirs. As a caregiver, the responsibility can feel overwhelming, affecting your sleep, weight loss or gain, and reducing the time you allow for your own needs. Recognising that it might all be taking its toll on you is important, as there's no advantage to shouldering all the responsibility alone. Allowing a professional service into your home means that the time you spend with your spouse is doing things you enjoy together. The professionals can help manage daily stuff so your spouse can be independent, safe, and comfortable in their home.
For more information about the home care services available to your spouse, get in touch with the Right at Home team. We can arrange for a Care Manager to visit and give you a free care assessment. Call us today on 01252 783426 or 01483 662400.
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