Shopping and food

Sometimes it just isn't enough to help an elderly person with their shopping. Some clients will need help  to identify what they are running short of and even what they might need to throw away.. for health and safety reasons! As with all Good Companions' services we need to assess how much and what kind of support each client needs in relation to shopping and managing their household supplies.
Older people suffering from memory loss or confusion can easily forget what they have bought leading to over purchasing and potential waste. The other worry it that they might not check dates on food which could have health implications. This is a simple but important service which a good companion can discretely perform during a social visit. Our aim is always to keep the client in the driving seat to sustain their independence as much as possible.

Memory loss and medication

We take for granted that when the doctor prescribes tablets that it's just a case of taking them..but if you live alone and suffer from significant memory loss, it's far from straightforward and quite a worry for family members not living close at hand. The 'pill planner' containers, available from chemists, with sections for each day of the week do help many manage their medication, but have their limitations, especially for those who have problems remember what day it is.
Working recently with an elderly client on medication and with memory difficulties has made me realise how hard it is when you live alone to take the right tablets, on the right day, at the right time. A community nurse is unlikely to call twice a day when there are no other health issues and sometimes even a phone call to remind the individual is not enough. As the 'Good Companion' I have been able to provide tactful support, popping in for a chat and discretely ensuring that the right tablets are taken at the right time. I can also email/phone the family or the surgery when the prescription needs renewing.  
Another thing the family can stop worrying about.