Spotting red flags to stop more tragedies

We need to stay on our guard to changes of behaviour among friends and family or things can spiral, Dr Raj Persaud warns

- BY DR RAJ PERSAUD, CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIST

Has someone you know had a red-flag moment? I mean a sudden, unexpected sign of decline in mental function that might seem innocuous yet, if ignored, can have wide-ranging implications. Among older people, they're often related to mental impairment.

For instance, your elderly relative is generally intellectually robust for their age but, on holiday at a new hotel, suddenly keeps getting lost.

Elderly people can quickly become deeply disorientated when taken out of their familiar environment and routines. But when they return home and settle back to their old routine, nothing seems awry and it's all too easy to dismiss. But if you'd paid attention you may have alerted the services earlier to a decline.

Such red flags can be vital early warning signs. Another may be an elderly relative’s reluctance to go on holiday. Or a young person's distress at being away from home.