Signs that an older person needs help

As a live-in carer you will normally arrive at your placement with a good idea of the health condition of your client. You may never have seen them in the early stages of their illness so may not even be aware of what triggered a visit to the doctor and the following diagnosis.

This may also lead you to think about your own parents or grandparents and their health issues. These days many adults live away from their parents, even possibly in other countries. If you communicate with your family by telephone, they may reassure you with every call that all is well – but is it?

There are some signs to watch out for that will indicate to you that your older relatives may need more help. You can be sure that they will not admit that they could do with a hand around the house or that they are concerned about each other. The last thing they will want to do is to worry you!

More forgetful

If you call your folks every week you may notice that they have forgotten somethings you talked about the previous week. If this happens occasionally it may not be cause for concern. But when it becomes a regular thing it may be a sign that they need help. They may also be forgetting more important things such as paying bills and taking medication or leaving the stove on while they go out.

Who to talk to: The best person to discuss this with is the doctor. The doctor can arrange for a medical and cognitive evaluation.  

Extra physical difficulties

Have your folks fallen over recently? Do they seem to have difficulty getting out of chairs and baths? Does it look as if they are walking with less balance than before? All these are signs that it may be time to look at extra support. Sometimes this can be a simple thing such as a walking stick or frame to help keep balanced when walking. Adding a handrail to the bathroom area will keep them from slipping when they get in and out of the bath. Chairs can be raised to a higher level so getting up is easier.

Who to talk to: Again, the doctor can help arrange a visit from the Occupational Therapist. She can assess the situation and suggest any equipment that can help.

Hygiene slips

You may notice that your folks are not keeping themselves as clean as they used to. Visits to hairdressers are fewer and hair starts to look a little unkempt. Does the clothing smell as if it needs to be washed? Are there less - or no - toiletries in the house, such as soap and toothpaste? This may mean that they have not gone shopping recently or they have forgotten to buy these items.

Who to talk to: You should tactfully find out if there is a monetary problem. If not, is it a transport problem in that they do not feel confident driving anymore? A cognitive issue will make a person unwilling to get out as they may fear getting lost. This should be addressed to the doctor.

Is the food in the fridge still in date? Are your folks looking like they have lost weight or becoming dehydrated? Some diseases mean that people become forgetful about when to eat and how long food lasts. They may also be losing their sense of smell and taste so that food does not seem that appealing.

Who to talk to: If you cannot be there to cook a meal each night, you may consider hiring an agency to cook a meal once a day. There are several excellent delivery services where a meal can be delivered daily.

An untidy house

This is a sure sign that older people may need additional help. If the house looks dirtier and more cluttered than you remember, then it may be time to arrange a cleaner. This is also the time to look at garden help.

Who to talk to: There are many adverts for cleaning companies and gardening assistants so that these chores are not an issue anymore.

Changes in personality

If you notice that your folks seem to be going out far less than they normally do, it may be time to have them checked out at their doctor. Some medical conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s leave people feeling listless and unwilling to go out. They no longer have the enthusiasm for their hobbies or friends. Have they become accusatory against the neighbours or are they simply ‘acting odd’ themselves?

Who to talk to: Now is the time to get together with the doctor and have a full medical check-up to see what the issues are.

To sum up

There are several signs that your folks need additional care. Most of them are easy to spot. The bottom line is that if you see that things are out of character or not quite normal, it may be time to get a second opinion.