How To Care For Seniors
When it comes to caring for the elderly, several approaches are taken, which don’t all require you to take on all the responsibility. You’ll first need to assess their individual needs to understand a little better as to the type of help they require. They might simply need someone to cook and clean or may need more help with ADL activities of daily life and taking their medications.
Adult children will immediately feel the pressure to take on the role of primary care giver. But with your own families to look after, bills to pay and a career to pursue, senior parents can quickly feel like a burden. Ultimately this can lead to tensions within the family.
There’s a lot to think about, which is why we’re sharing the different types of support available for seniors to help you with your decisions.
Remember: This is their life. Therefore, the end decision should be what they want. Make sure to involve seniors in every step of the decision-making process.
Providing care in the home
Of course, the most popular support for seniors allows them to stay at home where they are comfortable. Staying at their own house will help seniors feel a little more in control and independent. However, this option isn’t manageable for everyone. You’ll either have to take on tasks and chores as a family, or hire support staff.
To assess whether care at home is suitable, take time to monitor your elderly relative to see their day-to-day lifestyle. What are they eating? Are they cooking? What’s their hygiene like? Do they struggle to get around, or get dressed? If these things are seemingly difficult, it might be better to opt for live-in support or an assisted living community.
When caring for seniors at home, you should also consider the following:
- Installing support and safety systems such as shower seats, grab bars or stairlifts.
- Ensuring they get 150 minutes of exercise a week
- Understand potential side effects of the medication they’re taking
- Encourage them to maintain a social life
- Discuss finances like mortgages vs. rent
Alternative care options
Assisted living is another popular care option for seniors who need a little more help or feel better with 24/7 support. According to Brightview Bel Air assisted living, some of the most common reasons for choosing a senior living community are access to care, assistance, daily programs, socialization, quality meals, and safety/security.
Senior communities are great for allowing seniors to maintain their independence while benefitting from socializing with residents, cooked meals, and home comforts.
When considering assisted living, here’s some advice:
- Start the conversation with your elderly relatives early
- Look at financial aid and fees
- Visit potential communities to see how they feel
- Ensure the community can work with any specialist requirements
- Work to downsize belongings in the current house and only take the essentials
Living in a senior community or at home are the best options. It’s only when there are serious medical concerns that hospitals and care homes need to be considered.
