It is one of the most difficult realisations a family can face: the parent who once looked after you may now need looking after themselves. The change rarely happens overnight. More often, it is a gradual series of small shifts — a missed appointment, a fall, an uncharacteristic withdrawal from friends — that, taken together, paint a concerning picture.
Recognising these signs early is important. The sooner support is put in place, the more effective it tends to be, and the better the outcome for your parent’s health, safety, and quality of life. Here are ten warning signs that your elderly parent may benefit from professional domiciliary care at home.
1. Forgetting Medication
If your parent is forgetting to take their medication, taking it at the wrong times, or doubling up on doses, this is a serious concern. Medication errors can have significant health consequences, particularly for people managing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
A care worker can provide medication prompts at the right times each day, ensuring prescriptions are followed correctly. This alone can prevent hospital admissions and keep chronic conditions stable.
2. Noticeable Weight Loss or Poor Nutrition
When you visit, take a look in the fridge and kitchen cupboards. Are there expired items? Is the fridge mostly empty? Has your parent lost weight or started looking thinner than usual? Poor nutrition is one of the most common and most overlooked signs that an older person needs support.
Preparing meals can become difficult due to mobility problems, fatigue, cognitive decline, or simply a loss of motivation. A domiciliary care visit that includes meal preparation can ensure your parent is eating well and staying nourished.
3. Increasing Falls or Unsteadiness
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions for older people in Wales. If your parent has had a fall — or if you notice they are unsteady on their feet, holding on to furniture, or avoiding stairs — this is a clear sign that they may need help.
Care workers can assist with safe mobility around the home, and an emergency care response service can provide rapid support if a fall does occur. Accredilink has emergency care responders available on shift to ensure help is never far away.
4. Decline in Personal Hygiene
This can be one of the more sensitive signs to address. If your parent is wearing the same clothes for days, appears unwashed, or their home has a noticeable odour, they may be struggling with personal care tasks such as bathing, washing, and changing clothes.
This is not about vanity. Poor hygiene can lead to skin infections, urinary tract infections, and a significant loss of dignity and self-esteem. Professional personal care support can restore comfort and confidence.
5. Social Withdrawal and Isolation
Has your parent stopped attending activities they once enjoyed? Have they pulled away from friends, neighbours, or community groups? Social isolation is extremely common among older people and is linked to depression, cognitive decline, and poorer physical health.
Sometimes withdrawal is caused by practical barriers — difficulty with transport, anxiety about leaving the house, or embarrassment about their condition. A social care and companionship service can provide meaningful social interaction, even if it simply means having someone to talk to over a cup of tea.
6. The Home is Becoming Untidy or Unsafe
Look around your parent’s home with fresh eyes. Is it messier than it used to be? Are there piles of unopened post, overflowing bins, or clutter that could cause a trip? A home that was once kept immaculately may now show signs of neglect.
While domiciliary care is primarily about personal care and support, many providers — Accredilink included — can help with light domestic tasks that keep the home safe and comfortable.
7. Confusion or Memory Problems
Everyone forgets things occasionally, but persistent confusion — forgetting the day of the week, getting lost on familiar routes, repeating the same questions, or struggling to follow conversations — may be a sign of cognitive decline or the early stages of dementia.
If you are noticing memory problems, it is important to encourage your parent to see their GP for an assessment. Early diagnosis opens the door to medication, support services, and care planning. Our article on caring for someone with dementia at home offers practical guidance for families.
8. Difficulty Managing Finances
Unpaid bills, final demand letters, or unfamiliar transactions on bank statements can be a sign that your parent is struggling to manage their finances. This may be due to cognitive decline, poor eyesight, or simply feeling overwhelmed.
While a care worker cannot manage finances directly, having regular support at home means someone is present who can flag concerns, help with opening post, and alert the family if something seems wrong. You may also want to explore Lasting Power of Attorney to safeguard your parent’s financial affairs.
9. Changes in Mood or Behaviour
Has your parent become unusually anxious, irritable, tearful, or apathetic? Changes in mood and behaviour can be caused by many things — pain, medication side effects, loneliness, depression, or the frustration of losing independence. These changes should not be dismissed as “just getting old”.
Regular visits from a caring, familiar face can provide emotional support and a sense of routine. A good care worker will also notice changes in mood and behaviour over time, providing valuable early warning of health issues.
10. You Are Feeling Overwhelmed as a Family Carer
This final sign is about you, not your parent. If you are providing care yourself and finding it increasingly difficult — physically, emotionally, or practically — this is a sign that professional support is needed. Carer burnout is real, and it helps nobody if you push yourself to breaking point.
Respite care can give you a much-needed break while ensuring your parent continues to receive excellent support. Even a few hours a week can make a meaningful difference to your wellbeing and your ability to keep caring long-term. Read more in our guide on what respite care is and how it can help.
What to Do If You Recognise These Signs
If several of these signs are familiar, it is time to have a conversation — both with your parent and with professionals who can help. Here are some practical next steps:
Talk to Your Parent
Choose a calm moment and approach the conversation with empathy. Focus on your concern for their wellbeing rather than listing problems. Many older people resist the idea of care because they associate it with loss of independence, so it helps to frame it positively: care at home is about keeping independence, not losing it.
Speak to Their GP
A GP can assess physical and mental health, review medication, and make referrals to specialist services. If you are concerned about memory loss or cognitive decline, the GP is the first port of call.
Contact Your Local Authority
In Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham, you can contact the Single Point of Access or Adult Social Care team to request a care needs assessment. This is free and helps determine what support your parent is entitled to. Our guide on how to arrange domiciliary care in Wales walks you through the full process.
Talk to a Care Provider
You do not have to wait for a formal assessment to speak to a care provider. At Accredilink, we are always happy to have a no-obligation conversation about your situation. We can explain the options, help you understand what type and level of care might be suitable, and support you through the process of getting things set up.
You Are Not Alone
Recognising that a parent needs care is an emotional moment. It can bring feelings of guilt, sadness, and anxiety. But seeking help is not a failure — it is an act of love. With the right support in place, your parent can continue to live safely and comfortably at home, and you can have peace of mind knowing they are well looked after.
At Accredilink Community Response Taskforce, we are proud to support families across Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham. We are regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales, our care workers are trained and compassionate, and our emergency care responders are on shift to provide rapid support when it is needed most.