It can be difficult to know if your parents or relatives are not coping well at home. But there are a few tell-tale signs to keep an eye out for.
The earlier that you can spot your parents need more help at home, the better. Read our caring for elderly parents checklist of 8 questions to consider before you talk with them directly.
These can be a tricky series of conversations. ‘What Help do my parents need? A practical Guide’ will help you to navigate this new territory.
1. Are my parents looking after themselves?
Are your parents or relatives struggling to look after themselves and their home? Perhaps the post is piling up, laundry isn’t getting done and that once-spotless kitchen is looking grubby.
2. Are they eating regular meals?
Check the fridge to make sure food is fresh and that there are enough supplies to suggest that they are eating regular meals. Are they able to cook or heat food and handle the kettle safely?
3. Can they wash, bathe and shower?
Are they wearing clean clothes and do they appear to be looking after themselves – hair, shaving, teeth? Can they still bath/shower without help/aids?
You might be able to spot the signs but equally they might be too embarrassed to discuss personal hygience. Try and be sensitive and talk about the practical difficulties of reduced mobility and need for extra help such as grab rails in the bathroom.
There are a number of ways in which you can adapt your relative's home to make it safer. Find out more from our guide to adapting the home, including fall prevention.
4. Are the bills being paid?
Are the bills getting paid, or are there reminders in the post? If you are able to look at a bank statement, does it look like their spending patterns have changed?
5. Is a health condition affecting life?
Has mum or dad recently been diagnosed with a health condition that may make life more difficult? A physically challenging condition, such as arthritis, means they won’t be able to get around like they used to. A mentally degenerative condition, such as dementia, may mean confusion, frustration and signs of unusual irritation.
6. Is my relative taking their medication?
If they take medication, do they have dosette boxes for their pills? Is medication being taken regularly or is it stockpiling?
If one of your relatives is forgetting to take their medication, you may want to look at pill reminder apps. You can read more about these in our guide to Useful Apps for the elderly.
If a medical condition is making your relative's life more difficult, it might be worth discussing employing a specialist carer at home. Learn more about hiring a carer.
7. Are my parents able to get out and about?
Are your parents still mobile? Are they able to walk to shops or public transport, or to drive themselves safely?
8. Have they got a social life and connections?
Are mum and dad starting to lose interest in the things they’ve always enjoyed?
Are they still seeing friends and responding to invitations? It might be that they’re not physically able enough to get out and about. Or they may have lost the confidence to go out; after a fall, perhaps.
One way to build confidence in an elderly person after a fall is by investing in a personal alarm. They can provide peace of mind to both the wearer and their family if they were to fall again. Read more about the benefits of personal alarms.
