Does dad need extra support and care at home?
Did you know after each father’s day and bank holiday, homecare services across the country see a sharp rise in call numbers?
In 2020, families became even more distant than ever before. Due to COVID – 19 and continual lockdowns we left larger amounts of time between visits, missing the opportunity to constantly check-in on our loved ones. This results in a higher number of people calling with concerns about the wellbeing of their family members and their need for extra support.
Have you noticed any of the following warning signs?
If so, it may be time to seek extra care as they maybe unable to live life independently.
- Poor hygiene Are they washing and changing their clothes regularly? Do they have body odour? Are they neglecting their nails and teeth?
- Poor eating habits Have they lost weight? Do they have a poor appetite? Are they able to still cook for themselves? Look in their fridge and cupboards– is there any healthy food? Is there any rotten food or products well past their sell by date?
- Forgetfulness Do they have lots of unopened letters? Are they continually missing GP/Dental/Hospital appointments? Are they losing money or paying the same bill twice? Look at the cooker/oven – a good indicator are scorched saucepans, it shows they may be forgetting that dinner is cooking on the hob.
- Neglecting their home Look around – especially in their toilet and bedroom – are they changing the sheets? Is it not as clean as you remember?
- Local support network Do they have local friends or neighbours they can call on if they are needing extra help?
- Mobility Can they get out of bed, up the stairs and into the bath or shower without slipping or falling? A good indicator is checking whether there are any bruises or cuts.
- Driving Can they still safely drive? This one of the most difficult conversations to have – but one that should be raised sooner than the others. If your parents aren’t able to drive safely anymore, you’ll need to persuade them to give up the car keys or take them away legally if necessary. (An excellent way to determine whether they are able to drive safely is to check their car for new dents, scratches, etc…)