Signs That Your Loved One May Need Care | Right at Home Solent

For most of us in Fareham, Gosport, Southampton & New Forest East and all over the UK, there will come a time when our loved one or family member requires care. This is often a difficult and daunting time for the family, however, when the warning signs are spotted earlier, early prevention measures can be put in place to support your loved one to remain living in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible. And although it is difficult to address this, it is important that you pick up on the early signs and organise them care for as soon as possible; as it might be a short amount of time before they deteriorate. In this blog, we will talk about the common signs that you may start to notice, in which you start to consider care for a loved one and how Right at Home Solent can support you with this.

Sign #1

The first sign that a loved one might need care, is that they are struggling to maintain their own, personal hygiene. In this instance, a change in appearance or body odour may be the most obvious sign that your loved one needs support with their personal care. There are different reasons as to why someone may be struggling to maintain their usual personal hygiene standards. Such as:

- They no longer have the physical capabilities to do so

- Their mental health issues are negatively impacting their personal care routine,

- Or they have simply forgotten to wash and clean themselves daily; and Right at Home Solent can support your loved one with this.

Sign #2

Another sign is that you notice changes in their weight. It is said that if there is a 10% difference or more in body weight, this can often be a sign that there is a problem. This is a sign that they may not be eating enough and begin to lose weight as a result. This could be caused by the fact that they are finding difficulty in preparing meals, feelings of loneliness or isolation impacting their appetite or forgetting to eat at mealtimes. Make sure that you, or a CareGiver, is visiting them during mealtimes will give you a good indication of their eating habits. 

Sign #3

Physical changes in a person can include bruises or bumps from falls, weight changes, changes in personal hygiene or all the above. Whilst mental changes in an individual can often include mood swings, withdrawal from social situations, or displaying new behaviours that seem out of character, mental health problems can be experienced by people of all ages. Therefore, it is important to check in with your loved ones regularly to gain a good understanding of how they are feeling.

Sign #4

Another sign to look out for is that they are no longer able to perform daily tasks. In regard to this, you might notice that their house is starting to become very untidy. It may also be a struggle with smaller/everyday tasks, such as making a cup of tea, showering, getting dressed or preparing meals, they could benefit from the support of a homecare plan. Care for a loved one is all about supporting them in ways that they need, whether that's a lot of support, or just a small amount. Our aim is to keep our clients independence, from the comfort of their own home, for as long as possible. 

Sign #5

Memory loss is also typically associated with Dementia. Although it can be a symptom of dementia, that is not always the case. If you are worried your loved one is beginning to show symptoms of Dementia, it is best to seek advice from your GP. When treated early, people that are living with dementia can be supported to maintain their independence for longer. For more information on the early signs of dementia, you can read our blog here.

If you would like more information on the care services we provide, or you have any questions, please contact our friendly office team today on 01329 233755 , we look forward to speaking with you!