Guides · For families · 5 min read
Seven signs Mum needs a bit more help at home
The things families notice first, what they usually mean, and when it is worth picking up the phone.
By the Wrenmoor senior care team ·
Most of the families who ring us have been worrying for months before they call. Nothing dramatic has happened. It is a feeling that has grown, visit by visit, that things are slipping. Here are the signs we hear about most, and what they often mean.
The fridge tells you first
Out-of-date milk, the same ready meal stacked six deep, or almost nothing at all. Cooking is one of the first jobs to go when energy or memory fades, and a poor diet then makes everything else harder. A lunchtime visit that cooks and eats together often changes this within a fortnight.
Tablets that do not add up
Look at the blister pack. If Tuesday is still full on Thursday, or Friday is empty on Wednesday, medication is going wrong. A short morning and evening prompt is one of the simplest, cheapest kinds of care, and one of the most important.
The same clothes, the bath not used
Washing and dressing take balance, strength and confidence. When someone is frightened of falling in the bath, they quietly stop using it. Help with a shower twice a week is often all it takes.
Post piling up
Unopened letters, missed appointments, bills paid twice. This can be eyesight, it can be tiredness, and sometimes it is the first sign of memory problems worth mentioning to the GP.
A small fall, mentioned in passing
“I had a little tumble but I am fine.” Falls are rarely a one-off. Ask what happened, look for bruises, and think about who would know if it happened again.
Fewer phone calls, fewer outings
Loneliness is a health risk in its own right. If someone has stopped going to the club, the church or the shops, a weekly companion who takes them is often welcomed far more than expected.
You are the one who is exhausted
The last sign is often the family carer. If you are driving over twice a day, sleeping badly and snapping at people you love, the care plan needs to include you.
What to do next
None of these signs means a care home. Most mean a few hours of the right help at the right times. Ring us, describe the week as it is, and we will tell you honestly whether we think care is needed yet. You can also use our care planner to sketch a week of visits before you call.
