Recognising the Signs of Deteriorating Health: When to Speak Up

When providing care at home, carers are often in a unique position to notice small changes in a person's health and wellbeing. A change in appetite, behaviour, mobility, breathing or mood may sometimes be an early indication that something is wrong.

At Advance Careprovider, we believe that recognising changes early, communicating concerns and taking appropriate action can help protect the people we support.

What Does Deteriorating Health Mean?

Deteriorating health does not always happen suddenly. Sometimes changes happen gradually and may initially appear minor.

A service user may:

• Become unusually tired or weak.

• Eat or drink less than usual.

• Become more confused or disorientated.

• Have a noticeable change in their mood or behaviour.

• Become less mobile or have difficulty completing activities they normally manage.

• Experience changes in breathing.

• Develop a new pain or worsening existing pain.

• Have repeated falls.

• Sleep significantly more or less than usual.

• Have changes in their skin colour or appearance.

• Become less responsive than normal.

One change may not necessarily indicate an emergency, but a noticeable change from someone's normal condition should never be ignored.

Know the Person You Care For

Good care starts with knowing what is normal for the individual.

Carers should understand the person's care plan, usual routines, communication needs, mobility, eating and drinking patterns and any known health conditions relevant to their care.

This helps carers recognise when something is different.

For example, if a person who normally enjoys breakfast suddenly refuses food and appears unusually sleepy, this may be important information to report.

What Should a Carer Do?

If you notice a change, remain calm and assess the situation within the limits of your role.

1. Observe

Look carefully at what has changed.

Ask yourself:

“What is different from the person's normal presentation?”

2. Listen

Ask the service user how they feel, using communication that is appropriate for them.

Do not assume that you know what they are experiencing.

3. Check the Care Plan

Follow the person's care plan and any relevant risk assessments or instructions.

4. Report

Inform the appropriate senior, manager, healthcare professional or emergency service according to the seriousness of the concern and your organisation's procedures.

5. Record

Document the change accurately, including what you observed, what the person reported and what action was taken.

Good documentation allows other members of the care team to understand what has happened and identify patterns over time.

When Is It an Emergency?

Some symptoms require urgent medical attention. Examples can include severe difficulty breathing, sudden loss of consciousness, signs of a stroke, severe chest pain, significant bleeding or a sudden and serious deterioration in someone's condition.

Carers should follow their organisation's emergency procedures and seek appropriate medical assistance rather than attempting to manage a serious emergency independently.

Never Be Afraid to Speak Up

One of the most important responsibilities of a carer is to speak up when something does not seem right.

You do not need to diagnose a medical condition.

Your role is to recognise changes, report concerns promptly, follow the care plan and ensure the appropriate people are informed.

A small observation can sometimes make a significant difference.

Families and Carers Working Together

Families can also play an important role in recognising changes because they may notice differences in a person's behaviour or routine that are not immediately obvious to others.

Good communication between carers, families and healthcare professionals can help ensure that concerns are identified and acted upon appropriately.

Our Commitment at Advance Careprovider

At Advance Careprovider, we encourage our carers to know the people they support, listen carefully, remain observant and never ignore a concern.

We believe that good care is not only about completing tasks—it is about noticing the person, understanding what is normal for them and speaking up when something changes.

Remember:

Notice it. Listen to it. Report it. Record it.

Early recognition and appropriate action can help keep people safe and ensure they receive the support they need.

Advance Careprovider Limited

Compassionate Care. Trusted Support. Better Lives.