The caregiving process can be both rewarding and challenging, especially when the elderly at home has a chronic or terminal illness.
Many people have no idea how to start and where to go, which leaves them feeling discouraged and hopeless. But caring for an elderly loved one doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
It is vital to remain calm and in control of the situation at all times so that stress does not overtake happiness!
With sound knowledge and a little help from family and friends, you can offer your aging parent adequate supportive care.
The following tips will assist you in your endeavor and add value to their and your life simultaneously while taking care of them.
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Technology to your rescue
When caring for elderly loved ones at home, it’s important to remember that they have special needs. Likewise, their vision may be weaker and their hearing impaired, which makes helping them with daily tasks like bathing or dressing more difficult.
For example, seniors are more susceptible to accidents and fall because of slower reflexes and changes in the center of gravity.
With the advancement of technology, various electronic watches are available that are very beneficial for taking care of the elderly at home, with functions such as fall detection, voice control, medicine alerts, etc. You can read UnaliWear medical alerts review to check different features available on such watches.
These ready-to-wear gadgets help you synchronize their routine with to-do list reminders to facilitate the whole process.
Consult the professionals
The most crucial step to caring for your elderly parent at home is to meet with a local geriatric care manager. This professional will provide valuable insight and help develop an individualized plan of care that considers multiple factors, such as your needs, your mom’s needs, money, time, and physical capabilities.
Compiling a list of regular, weekly, and monthly care duties will help determine how much assistance is required during the day, night, and weekends. You’ll notice how much care is needed and when it is necessary.
Setting up a notepad and making quick notes every time you or someone else assists your older adult with something is a straightforward approach to building a thorough list.
Maintain the interest and involvement
For the age, living independently is ideal, but not if it means abandoning their former busy, active usual schedule. If you are unable to assist them in attending cultural, religious, leisure, or other gatherings that they used to enjoy, employ a companion or seek the assistance of others in similar organizations.
Make your home safe
It is pretty standard for seniors to fall and get injured. As a senior citizen, you may have limited mobility, eyesight, or cognitive abilities. The risk of falling increases even more if you have other health problems.
It’s essential to understand what it takes to make your home safe. Installing grab bars and railings on stairs or inside the shower are a few simple DIY projects you can do with a bit of help from friends or family members.
You need not spend too much on installing gates; lightweight plastic gates can be bought for less than $20 at most departmental stores.
Financial planning
With statistics showing that more and more Americans will find themselves caring for an aging parent at some point in their lives, it has never been more important for caregivers to see the financial picture just as clearly as the physical one.
Caring for seniors at home can seem financially impossible. However, there are multiple resources available, and many people learn that caring for the elderly at home is possible and won’t require any dramatic moves, like cashing out the savings account.