Signs Your Elderly Loved One May Need a Little Extra Help at Home

As our loved ones age, it can be difficult to know when to step in and offer extra support. Many seniors value their independence, and changes can happen gradually. However, recognizing certain warning signs early – especially if you live in close-knit communities like Goring-by-Sea or Rustington – can ensure your family member gets the help they need before a crisis occurs. Below, we discuss key things to look out for in an older adult’s behaviour or living situation, how to approach the conversation sensitively, and the support options available (including Aurora Community Care’s local home care services in West Sussex).

Signs an Elderly Family Member May Need Extra Help

Even small changes in a senior’s routine or appearance can be significant. Keep an eye out for the following signs that your elderly parent or relative may be struggling on their own:

• Decline in Personal Hygiene or Appearance: Noticeable changes in cleanliness, such as infrequent bathing, strong body odour, soiled clothing, or unkempt hair, could indicate that daily self-care tasks have become challenging. Significant weight loss or gain can also be a red flag. These changes suggest your loved one might need assistance with personal care or reminders to maintain their routine.
• Untidy Home and Poor Household Maintenance: If you visit and find the home in disarray – piles of unopened mail, dirty dishes stacking up, laundry neglected, or unusual odours – it may mean household chores are overwhelming them. Check the fridge and pantry: are they empty or filled with expired food? A cluttered, unclean living space or things like burn marks on cookware (from left-on stoves) can signal that your family member isn’t coping well with home tasks or is becoming forgetful about safety.
• Physical Frailty, Mobility Issues, or Frequent Falls: Difficulty moving around, unsteadiness on their feet, or new bruises and injuries may indicate balance problems or weakness. Perhaps they’ve had a recent fall or close call and didn’t tell anyone. Pay attention if they appear fatigued, unsteady, or complain about dizziness. Trouble getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, or walking even short distances is a sign they might benefit from mobility support or regular check-ins.
• Memory Lapses and Confusion: Everyone forgets things occasionally, but frequent memory issues are a concern. Look for unopened bills, missed appointments, or medications not taken (or taken incorrectly) – these are common signs of cognitive decline. Your loved one might ask the same question repeatedly or get confused about time and places. If they often seem disoriented or forget to do routine tasks (like turning off the oven or locking doors), extra help or a medical evaluation may be needednia.nih.gov.
• Changes in Mood or Social Withdrawal: A once-cheerful parent becoming irritable, depressed, or anxious is worth noting. They might lose interest in hobbies or avoid social activities they used to enjoy. Loneliness can be both a cause and effect of needing help – for example, if they’ve stopped driving to their favorite coffee morning in Rustington or no longer take walks on the Goring-by-Sea promenade, they could be feeling isolated. Mood swings, increased confusion, or uncharacteristically antisocial behavior are all signs that something is wrong and they may need more companionship or emotional support.
• Difficulty Managing Daily Tasks: Pay attention to whether bills are unpaid or mail is piling up. Are they struggling to grocery shop or cook for themselves? Perhaps your loved one gets overwhelmed by scheduling appointments, managing the TV remote, or maintaining the garden. If they’ve given up activities like cooking, driving, or even taking out the rubbish, it may be because these tasks have become too difficult. This kind of decline in day-to-day functioning is a clear indicator that some in-home help could dramatically improve their quality of life.

No single one of these signs alone automatically means your family member can’t cope. But if you’re noticing multiple red flags on a regular basis, it’s likely time to intervene. Trust your instincts – family members often sense when “something is off” even before it becomes a crisis. The goal is to support your loved one so they remain safe, healthy, and happy in their own home for as long as possible.

How to Talk with Your Loved One About Needing Help

Starting a conversation about accepting help can be delicate. Many older people fear becoming a burden or losing their independence, so approach the topic with empathy and respect. Here are some tips for a productive, caring discussion:

• Choose the Right Time and Place: Pick a relaxed, private setting when neither of you is rushed or stressed. Perhaps chat over a cup of tea during a calm afternoon. Ensure your tone is loving and not confrontational.
• Lead with Concern, Not Criticism: Focus on your observations and feelings. For example, you might say, “I’ve noticed it’s getting harder for you to carry the shopping bags, and I worry you might strain yourself”, rather than “Your house is a mess and you can’t handle it.” Make it clear that you’re bringing this up because you care about their well-being.
• Listen and Encourage Openness: Give your loved one a chance to share how they feel. They may be relieved you brought it up, or they may be defensive. Hear them out without interrupting. Acknowledge their emotions (“I understand you’re worried about someone new coming into your home”) and reassure them that needing a bit of help is very common and nothing to be ashamed of.
• Emphasize Independence and Choice: Explain that the goal of getting help is to keep them independent, not take over their life. Frame support as a way to make their day-to-day easier and more enjoyable – for instance, having a home helper could free them from strenuous chores so they have more energy for things they love. Make sure they feel involved in decisions: they can choose what kind of help they get and when.
• Start Small and Offer a Trial: Suggest trying a small service on a trial basis to see how it goes. For example, “How about we have someone come in just once a week to help with cleaning and keep you company? We can try it for a couple of weeks – if you don’t like it, we can stop.” This way, it doesn’t feel like a huge irreversible commitment. Knowing that there’s a no-obligation trial period (such as the two-week trial Aurora Community Care offers) can ease their mind.

By keeping the conversation positive and patient, you’re more likely to get buy-in from your loved one. It may take a few gentle talks for them to warm up to the idea, so don’t get discouraged if they aren’t enthusiastic right away. Reinforce that you’ll support them every step of the way and that any help will be on their terms and comfort level.

Local Support Options in Goring-by-Sea, Rustington, and Surrounding Areas

Living in a supportive community like West Sussex means you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. There are local resources and professionals who specialize in elder care. In Goring-by-Sea and Rustington, for example, you’ll find community centres, social clubs for seniors, and healthcare providers familiar with older adults’ needs. It can be helpful to reach out to neighbors or friends in the area – often others have gone through similar experiences and can recommend what worked for them. Local councils sometimes offer assistance with home adaptations (like installing grab bars or ramps) and can connect you with volunteer visitors or meal delivery services. Don’t hesitate to use these community supports as part of your plan to help your loved one.

One key resource to consider is professional home care, which brings personalized help right to your family member’s door. Home care agencies can provide everything from basic check-in visits to full-time live-in assistance, depending on what’s needed. This flexibility allows seniors to remain in the comfort of their own home in Goring-by-Sea, Rustington, or nearby, while getting help tailored to their lifestyle.

How Aurora Community Care Can Help

Aurora Community Care is one such home care provider, and we’re proud to serve families right here in West Sussex – including Worthing, Goring-by-Sea, Rustington, and the surrounding areas auroracommunity.care. We understand the local seaside lifestyle and the close-knit nature of our communities. Our team of trained, compassionate caregivers can step in to give your loved one just the right amount of support, so they stay safe and happy at home. Some of the flexible services we offer include:

• Wellbeing Checks: Short, friendly visits to ensure everything is okay. For instance, a caregiver can drop by to say hello, make a cup of tea, check that the heating is comfortable, and confirm that your loved one has taken their medication or eaten recently. These regular check-ins provide peace of mind for both the senior and their family.
• Companionship Visits: Loneliness can be a serious issue for seniors living alone. Our caregivers are happy to spend time with your loved one – chatting, playing cards, taking a gentle walk, or even accompanying them to enjoy Rustington’s shops or Goring’s beach promenade. This social interaction lifts their spirits and keeps isolation at bay.
• Home Help and Personal Care: We assist with the everyday tasks that might have become challenging. This can include light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and other household chores. We can also help with personal care like bathing, dressing, or mobility around the house, always with dignity and respect. By handling these tasks, we take the strain off your loved one (and you), ensuring the home stays clean and routines are maintained.

What makes Aurora’s support special is its flexibility and commitment to your peace of mind. We know inviting a carer into your home is a big decision, so we make it as easy as possible to try our services. Aurora Community Care offers a 14-day trial period for new clients – essentially a “try before you commit” approach. For the first two weeks, you can use our care services with no long-term contract or obligations. If you feel it’s not the right fit, you can cancel within those initial 14 days without any penalty or notice periodwi. After that, we keep things flexible with just a week’s notice required to make changes or cancel, so you’re never locked in. This trial period gives families in Goring-by-Sea, Rustington and beyond the confidence to see how professional care can improve day-to-day life, risk-free.

We also pride ourselves on personalizing our care plans. Our care managers will meet with you and your loved one (at no cost, with a free consultation) to discuss exactly what support is needed. Whether it’s a couple of hours of help once a week or daily visits, we schedule around your family’s routines and preferences. We match each client with compatible caregivers – you’ll see the same friendly faces consistently, which helps build trust and familiarity. And because Aurora is a local, family-run service, we treat our clients like neighbors. We’re regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and all our carers are highly trained, so you can rest assured your loved one is in good hands.

Choosing to get extra help is not about losing independence – it’s about enhancing quality of life. By bringing in a bit of support, your elderly family member can continue to enjoy the comforts of home in Rustington’s seaside village or the beautiful Goring-by-Sea community without worry. Tasks that were once difficult become manageable again, and everyday life becomes safer and more social.

Moving Forward

Realizing an aging parent or relative needs help can be emotional, but it’s also an opportunity to come together as a family and ensure your loved one’s later years are as fulfilling as possible. Keep communication open with your loved one and involve them in decisions. Small steps, like a weekly home help visit or a daily phone call, can make a big difference.

If you’re unsure where to start, Aurora Community Care is here to guide you every step of the way. We encourage you to take advantage of our free, no-obligation care consultation – we’ll happily discuss your situation, answer questions, and suggest options (even if you’re not ready to begin services yet). Sometimes just having more information and an expert perspective can ease your mind.

Helping an elderly family member doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right support network – from understanding neighbors and community resources to professional caregivers – your loved one can thrive at home. By watching for the signs that they need a little extra help and acting early, you’ll be giving them the gift of safety, comfort, and companionship. And in a caring community like ours in West Sussex, that kind of support is something we all value.

For more information on home care services or to explore care for your loved one, visit Aurora Community Care’s Services page to see the full range of help available, or check our Locations page to confirm we cover your area. We’re always here to answer your questions and help your family make the best decision. Remember, needing a little extra help is normal – and with the right approach, your loved one can continue living confidently and joyfully in the place they love.