Christmas is a time of joy and laughter with family and friends. It’s also an opportunity to spend more time with your loved ones, and it is often at this time of year that you start to notice they are not coping as well as they once did.
So what should you be looking for? How do you approach the subject of help and how do you speak to them about it? Eximius share their expertise to offer advice
Warning signs that your loved ones may not be coping alone
Weight loss is often a sign of a problem with their physical or mental health. It may be that they are struggling to shop or cook for themselves or it could also be the symptom of an undiagnosed medical problem or a recent injury.
Build-up of opened mail could be a sign they are not dealing with financial issues appropriately, or they are avoiding them altogether. They may be avoiding dealing with correspondence for various reasons, one of which is cognitive decline in the elderly, or a mental health issue if an injury has occurred with life changing consequences.
Poor personal hygiene could be associated with self-neglect. In some cases this can be due to cognitive changes but it could also indicate they are finding it physically difficult. Maybe they are struggling to get in and out of the bath, or easily use the toilet, and feel embarrassed to say anything to family members. It may also be that they are wearing the same clothes and are forgetting to change them or find it all too much if there is a physical condition that hinders being more able bodied.
Being reclusive could be an indication that your loved one knows there’s a problem, but is too proud to ask for help. They may be trying to do things on their own, especially if they’ve been living alone for a long period of time.
Frequent falls are a serious worry with a relative that lives alone. Particularly if they were to have a bad fall and were not able to call for help. Falls need to be dealt with immediately and prevented with extra support. If a fall results in a hospital admission, this is often when things deteriorate quickly. Problems with balance often come with age and there may be some adjustments that need to be made around the home to make it safer, and appropriate equipment should be readily available for people living with a life changing condition.
Memory loss or confusion are often a clear sign of cognitive decline. Everyday tasks such as cooking can become a risk to themselves and others. Going out alone and becoming disorientated can be a frightening experience and all suggest extra help at home may be needed. This is often the hardest area to tackle as people are in denial and don’t want to face the issue. However, early intervention can delay further decline.
Depression can affect anyone but can be elevated by age, loneliness, and also someone living with a condition that is hard for them to manage. Symptoms can range from weight loss, weight gain, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, being less sociable then before and can also coincide with a few other of the warning signs above.
Start the conversation
What should you do if you think your loved ones need some help? Sometimes it’s tricky because although you know in the long run it’s better for them to have help, many elderly people and those living with a neurological condition may be trying to do things alone, so taking the first step will be difficult, especially if they’ve always been independent.
To begin with, it’s a good idea to ask how they feel. Ask if they have noticed any changes within themselves. Maybe they have thought about how some extra help would be good but don’t know where to start. Ask if they have any specific concerns.
This opens up the opportunity to discuss the possible options available to them. This can include residential care, domiciliary care and the best of both worlds – live-in care. Live-in care enables your loved-one to continue living independently in their own home with round-the-clock support from a carer or companion.
Supporting people with neurological conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, stroke and Cerebral Palsy
This can be a worrying time for you when noticing changes in your loved ones and after a diagnosis, the stress can be enormous.
One of the key concerns where people need support is around their safety, personal cleanliness and medication needs. Our carers help with the day to day tasks, supporting personal care needs such as toileting, washing, dressing and ensuring that clothes are clean and regularly changed. All our carers understand that it can be overwhelming for your loved one but they will ensure that privacy, dignity and respect is always maintained.
Medication is also crucial to a person’s health and wellbeing, however, our carers are fully trained in handling of medication and this is recorded through an online Pass system and this helps to keep you informed of your loved ones care and the support they’re receiving so you can be fully involved, and assured too.
Supporting people with brain injury
At Eximius, we understand that no two conditions are the same. This is vitally important for people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) or people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). We understand that both an ABI and TBI can cause a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional indicators, which can make life challenging for the individual and for those closest to them.
We’re able to offer long-term care for individuals who wish to remain at home and live an independent life. We’re also able to offer short-term care such as rehabilitation or support with a holiday or trip abroad.
Supporting people with spinal injury
A spinal cord injury (SCI) has life changing consequences. Together with the physical issues, there’s the hidden impact on mental health for both the person being cared for and for their families.
Eximius has many fully trained carers who understand the impact that bowel management, skin care and autonomic dysreflexia can have on a clients physical and mental wellbeing. They also understand our clients need for dignity and privacy and for people to continue their lives with limited disruption.
Eximius became trusted partners with the Spinal injury Association SIA in 2021. Since then, Eximius has continued to develop its knowledge and expertise to ensure we can successfully support individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury whether their injury is new, or they’ve been living with their injury for many years. We have seen the overwhelming benefits that can be achieved with the right Live-in care. .
Our complex care team are trained to the highest level, and they are here to offer a professional, compassionate, and person-centered care service.
– Our spinal injury training is nurse led and covers essential topics, including:
- Bladder management
- Practical bowel management
- Tissue viability
- Respiratory function
- Autonomic dysreflexia.
- Practical anal irrigation
– We utilize the British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management (BABICM), the Spinal Injury Association (SIA) and the Multidisciplinary Association for Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (MASCIP) guidance for additional specific training around ABI and TBI.
Our spinal injury and bowel management training is completed by a specialist nurse who delivers a practical session. Competencies are then completed by our trained complex care supervisors who have been signed off by the specialist nurse.
After completing the brain injury training care staff will have a competency-based assessment completed to ensure their knowledge is in line with their recent training.
You also have the confidence that as Eximius is rated “Outstanding” by Care Quality Commission, so you are placing your loved ones in safe hands with us.
We are committed to keeping our clients safe, happy and in good health, whilst supporting them to live their life, to the full. At Eximius Live-in care we carefully match clients with our highly trained companions who will provide whatever support they need, from cooking, cleaning, welfare checks and social trips out to more complex medical care.
We provide a personal, bespoke and exceptional service for our clients, year after year, so if you have noticed a change in your loved ones this Christmas, we’d love to speak to you to help you work out if live-in care is right for you
If you have any questions, please get in touch. to help you work out if live-in care is the right solution.
01494 424222
