Local care company launches new checklist helping families spot the signs of needing care

Local home care company, Home Instead Ipswich, Woodbridge & Felixstowe, has launched a new free checklist for families who are worried about the health of their older loved one.

With an ageing population and the majority of older people wishing to stay in their own homes, Home Instead says that families need to be extra vigilant to ensure that they are spotting signs that a family member may be in need of additional support.

The checklist is based on the thousands of calls received by Home Instead across the country on a weekly basis. 100 Home Instead offices were asked what signs families are most likely to reference when they make an enquiry about care. The top ones were:

• Memory loss (70%)
• Personal hygiene (48%)
• Medication management (44%)
• Nutrition or weight loss/gain (31%)
• Safety concerns (31%)

Home Instead finds that often, families fail to spot the signs in their entirety due to being so busy with other commitments, such as work and raising children. Or perhaps the change in their loved one is so gradual that they haven’t noticed the extent of the change.

The checklist points out the key areas to be aware of. Is Mum forgetting to take medication? Is Dad regularly leaving the oven on? You can understand when the time is right to broach the subject of care.

Joanna McCall, General Manager of Home Instead Ipswich, Woodbridge & Felixstowe, says: “It’s so common to see Mum or Dad change as they get older. We want to encourage families in the area to look out for these signs. Our checklist is such a simple tool and tells you what you should consider and whether you should introduce care.

“Having the care conversation with your older loved one doesn’t have to be upsetting; the trick is to do it early on. Families should simply float it in as a casual topic when they’re still reasonably independent and keep it as a regular conversation.”

Home Instead Ipswich, Woodbridge & Felixstowe stands local families in excellent stead to keep their older loved ones well at home, and it begins with the Spot the Signs checklist. You can get hold of a checklist and speak to Home Instead about any concerns you might have by calling 01473 272301 or emailing [email protected]