Having our ageing parents at home brings us pride and joy, gives us an opportunity to take care of them, like they have taken care of us all their lives. Our elders bring joy and comfort to us at the end of the day. They shower us with stories, blessings and much-needed advice in life. As working adults, however, living with elderly parents can be complicated.
You want them to live a happy, convenient life, but you often worry if they are lonely, or that they do not end up feeling like a burden on their family.The question of how to take care of the elderly at home might sometimes stress you out. While the stress is normal, some simple precautionary measures will make the process smoother for both of you. Here is a comprehensive guide for you on looking after your elderly parents at home while ensuring their safety and well-being.
Make The Home Safe and Accessible
The first step that you can take while caring for elders is to ensure that their living environment is safe and secure. Many seniors face mobility issues. This makes it crucial for you to eliminate any hazards at your home. Here are some key measures to consider while taking care of elderly patient at home:
Install grab rails and ramps:
One of the most effective ways to prevent falls is by installing grab rails in critical areas, such as bathrooms and staircases. These rails provide support when moving around and can significantly reduce the risk of accidents. Ramps, on the other hand, offer a safer alternative for those with mobility issues, allowing them to navigate their environment more easily.
Improve lighting
Consider installing brighter light bulbs in all areas of your house, particularly hallways, staircases, and bathrooms. Turn on these lights at night as a properly lit moving space not only prevents accidents but also promotes a sense of security for the elderly.
Widening doorways
If your loved one uses a wheelchair or walker, widening doorways may be necessary to facilitate movement throughout the home. This adjustment can make daily activities more manageable and reduce feelings of frustration.
Keep things they frequently use at lower heights
Keep the daily necessities at their reachable heights. Their daily medicines, clothes, and personal care objects need to be by their side to prevent risks of falls while reaching out to them on high shelves.
Declutter the home with minimalist décor
Remove unnecessary items from the moving ways of your elderly adults. Adopt a minimalistic décor to make your home look tidy while reducing the chances of tripping hazards.
Create A Schedule
Following a daily routine is a must while taking care of elderly patients at home. This schedule will provide a sense of comfort and security to seniors. A fixed routine is important as it:
Gives them comfort and familiarity
As they age, the cognitive capacity of elders gets reduced. A fixed pattern of daily activities thus helps them better memorize their daily whereabouts and feel more in control.
Less chances of missing meals or medications
A schedule of daily tasks will help you offer meals and medicines to them on time without a miss. You can use alarms or daily to-do lists to remind them about taking medicines timely.
Helps manage stress for the carers
Creating a schedule also helps caregivers manage their stress levels. Knowing what tasks need to be completed and when allows caregivers to allocate time for themselves, which is crucial for maintaining their well-being.
Take Care of Their Nutritional Needs
Nutrition should be one of the prime concerns for you when taking care of the elderly at home. Make a diet plan with small nutritious portions of meals catering to their slow metabolism and exhaustion. Adjust their dietary patterns to include foods more suitable to their age such as low-carb, protein-rich food.
Seek Help from Each Family Member
Taking care of elderly patients all alone can be overwhelming. Therefore, divide the tasks among the family members, including spending time with them and talking to them from time to time. Involve your kids to remind them of medication or play with their grandparents. This will help in reducing the burden on one person and prevent emotional burnout.
Spend Time with Them
Young people have busy schedules, and you might find it challenging to make time for your elders, but it is important for their mental health and the relationship you have with them. While spending time with your seniors, consider to:
Do things they love: It can be watching their favourite TV shows, doing crafts together, or gardening together. These moments will create cherishing memories for everyone.
Reminisce with them: Encouraging your loved one to share stories from their past can be a wonderful way to connect. Reminiscing can not only provide joy but also help them feel valued and heard.
Keep them updated about family and kids: Regularly share with your parents about how your day was. Let them be well informed about the whereabouts of their grandchildren, close friends and neighbours to help them combat loneliness.
Encourage Socialising with Friends
Outside time is equally important for older adults. Socializing keeps them happy and engaged in their lives. If your parents have a special hobby, make them follow it. They can spend hours knitting or watching sports together with people of their age.
Regular Visits to Doctor
Keeping tabs on their health is super important and for this, you need to go for regular health check-ups with your elderly adults. Regular health check-ups and consultations with doctors will help you timely diagnose health concerns like nerve problems, cardiac arrest, etc.
Check with local social services agencies and veterans' organizations to see if your loved one qualifies for any of these programs, or consider joining a pooled trust income fund.
Get Help
Sometimes, irrespective of all your efforts, some external support becomes necessary. When looking for elderly care services at home, you can trust Samarth Elder Care. Samarth Care Counsellors are specially trained and well-experienced to provide additional assistance in caring for your parents at home. From arranging doctors or physiotherapists at home to delivering nutritious food, medicine, and other medical equipment, Samarth is there to share your responsibilities.
To conclude, take care of yourself because only as long as you are alright, your elderly parents will be too. To provide the best possible care for your elderly parent, you mustn't end up incapacitated. Take the assistance of Samarth whenever you feel exhausted.
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