Signs your loved one may benefit from home support

As people age some everyday tasks can become more difficult. That’s why home support services are available to help people to continue living at home safely and comfortably. 

Not everyone is aware they would benefit from home care services. So for families, there are signs to look out for in your older loved ones that might signal a need to reach out for in home assistance.

Everyday tasks 

There are many signs that could be evident in everyday life that your loved one is not coping as well at home as they used to and could benefit from support through aged care services. 

Your loved one may experience: 

• Difficulty managing medications
• Difficulty managing finances
• Difficulty dressing
• Difficulty showering
• Difficulty eating
• Difficulty going to the toilet 

Health services through home care can help your loved one to get back on track with many activities of daily living, while support is also available for non-health related challenges, such as finances.

Physical appearance 

There are a number of physical signs that a person’s health is deteriorating, and some of these signs are also good indicators that your loved one could use some home care assistance. 

For example, they may have drastic changes in weight because they are not eating properly. 

If your loved one is not eating healthily, skipping meals or not sticking to a diet that helps to manage their health conditions, they might benefit from a meals service or help at home with meal preparation. 

Sometimes allied health services such as visiting a dietitian might be important for getting your loved one back on track with nutritious meal plans that they feel more confident in following. 

Other physical signs may include skin tears or wounds that are not healing well, which could require regular attention from a nurse. 

Home care providers can send nurses to visit your loved one at home to dress their wounds, check on the progress of their healing and suggest ways to manage skin conditions. 

Incontinence can also be managed with help from home nursing services. 

Mobility 

A decline in mobility can be an obvious sign that an older person needs some support. 

There are many reasons why a person’s mobility might decline, but there is always a service that can help. 

For example, if your loved one is struggling to shower themselves they might benefit from some assistive equipment like a shower chair, or minor home modifications like grab rails in the shower. 

Through home care in Australia, older people can receive visits from an Occupational Therapist who will suggest the kinds of equipment and home modifications that can help them to live safely and comfortably. 

Personal care services may also be available to help your loved one shower if they need more assistance than the equipment alone. 

In home health care also includes allied health such as physiotherapy, which may help your loved one to regain some abilities by building strength, balance and stability. 

These services can be particularly helpful following surgery, a hospital stay, illness, a diagnosis of a chronic health condition or a fall - which could all be signs your loved one needs support as well. 

Home maintenance 

Your loved one may be getting around to cleaning their home less often, or no longer be able to do certain chores they have always done, such as scrubbing the bathroom or doing the vacuuming.

In the same way, they may not be able to prune the plants in their garden anymore or mow the lawn as often as needed.

Other people find it difficult or unsafe to do important maintenance jobs like cleaning the gutters.

Garden and maintenance services are available through home care to help your loved one keep their home in good condition.

Social life 

Mental wellbeing is just as important for older people as it is for everyone else. In fact, one in ten older Australians experience depression and the three main causes are poor physical health, social isolation and loss. 

This is why a change in your loved one’s social life can be such an important sign to look out for when considering their overall wellbeing and need for care services. 

You may notice they leave the house less, stop attending groups or events they used to attend, stop talking about other people they were socially connected with or simply withdraw from conversation with you and others. 

Your loved one might also put less effort into their appearance, such as not brushing their hair or wearing unkempt clothes. 

Many people are not aware that support for the social and mental wellbeing of older people is included in home services. 

It could be a service as simple as a home care assistant taking your loved one to the shops for groceries, while having a chat and getting out into the community. 

Or your loved one might appreciate a visit at home with a support worker who could engage with them over a hobby or special interest. 

Southern Cross Care’s Home Services in Darwin, Adelaide, regional South Australia, Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria can support older people with all of these challenges. 

Call us on 1800 852 772 or visit our Home Care, Health & Fitness and Respite Care pages for more information. 

It is also important to be aware of the ongoing aged care reforms and the changes to in home care that will be occurring on 1 July with the introduction of the Support at Home program. 

Support at Home will replace the Home Care Packages program and Short Term Restorative Care program. 

You can read more about these changes in our article ‘What you need to know about Support at Home’.