Does someone in your family need some extra support this festive season?
The festive season brings opportunities to look out for each other as a family.
We all love Christmas – gift giving, grand feasts, snowy landscapes and most importantly, time with family. This Christmas is a great time to spend Moments That Matter with your loved ones and to pay attention to signs that indicate they may need further support. Helping Hands can be there for you and your family, any time of the year. So, taking the time to look closer at your relatives could be the beginning of a positive change in their lives. This article aims to explain some of the telltale signs someone needs extra support at home this Christmas.
Physical decline
Weight loss, frailty, or difficulty with mobility and balance can be signs of physical decline.
You can try to keep a close eye on their grooming or hygiene, and if they are wearing inappropriate clothing for the snowy winter weather. Small tasks like serving the tasty Christmas pudding or handing out gifts can be difficult for someone with decreasing physical ability or mobility. They may have reduced strength and coordination, so make sure you’re there to help out with the Christmas day mayhem this year. Fatigue or frequent resting can also signal underlying health issues that may require attention.
Emotional changes
We are passionate about supporting our customers to enjoy the festivities that they love the most, and we know that they may need more help to do so as their needs evolve.
Social withdrawal
Your family member may seem more distant this Christmas and may avoid family gatherings or calls. They may lack engagement in their usual holiday traditions and be disinterested and isolated in social activities. Social withdrawal can indicate something is wrong.
Cues from conversation
Look for indicators your relative may express during a conversation over Christmas dinner or games. They may show signs of feeling overwhelmed or exhausted, possibly due to health challenges or the fear of managing daily life on their own. They might also start requesting more help than usual.
Emotional changes
Negative emotions may be more visible when you’re spending time as a family. Loneliness, sadness or general withdrawal from other people could show in their mannerisms or expressions. Sudden mood swings or unusual behaviour can indicate that someone may need further help.
Struggle with daily activities
Neglecting cooking, cleaning and shopping can indicate that your relative may not have the time or the ability to do these tasks due to low mobility. Missing medical appointments or wearing inappropriate clothing for the weather can also show someone is struggling.
Home environment concerns
If your loved one has a cluttered or unclean living space that is unlike them, most likely they are struggling for time or physically cannot carry out these tasks. Unpaid bills and unopened mail also indicate losing track of daily chores, alongside a lack of essentials and food in stock.
Financial or practical difficulties
While Christmas is tough on all of our pursestrings, if your family member frequently complains about money troubles, this could be a cry for help. Unfinished tasks such as Christmas decorations not being up, or basic errands having not occurred could show some extra help is needed at home.
Spot the signs of dementia
During Christmas, keep an eye on your family for anyone showing signs of dementia.
Helping Hands can provide superb dementia care for your family this Christmas, whether live-in care, visiting or respite care. Some common signs of dementia include:
Home care for customers with Helping Hands
At Helping Hands, we can offer superb homecare so you can enjoy the festive period free of stress in the place you love most.
Visiting care
Live-in care
A fully regulated home care provider
Here at Helping Hands, our service is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
This means we need to consistently meet high standards and are monitored by our regulators.
