CARING FOR OUR ELDERLY PARENTS AT HOME

 

Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal requirements of senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities and health care, but who desire to age with dignity.  It is an important distinction, in that the design of housing, services, activities, employee training and such should be truly customer-centered.

Caregiving is a multi-faceted job that requires a whole slew of skills: medical, financial, legal, interpersonal, etc.  The more we can learn about what lies ahead for our loved ones and ourselves, the better prepared we will be throughout this journey.

 We may choose to care for our loved ones at home for various reasons.  This should be encouraged, as long as the situation is safe for everyone involved.  Keeping aging parents at home is a wonderful thing to do, but it is important to note that senior care can be very stressful.

Remaining in good health as an elderly requires much more than what medication and treatment can offer.  Below are some tips for those who want their loved ones to age as comfortably, independently, and vibrantly as possible.

1. We first need to assess how much care an elderly parent needs, and in doing so, we need to ensure we do not lose sight of the bigger picture or begin to overlook our own health.   We also need to educate ourselves. Learn what we can about our parent’s condition(s).  This puts us in a better position to care for him/her physical and emotional needs, and to keep abreast of him/her medical history and treatment. After assessing the situation, we need to think carefully if this is something we can handle without help, and how much care we can realistically provide without harming our own health.
2. If we decide to care for our elderly at home, it is essential to pace ourselves; we are humans and this might not be sustainable over the long run.  Pacing ourselves and getting assistance, help us stay as healthy as possible, while providing the best care for our loved ones.
3. Try to include our loved ones in the decision making process, if they are capable of doing so.  When it comes to their own care, let them make suggestions as to the type of care they would like, when and where they would like to receive it.  By doing this they will feel like their opinion matters.
4. We can choose to care for our elderly inside our own homes with the assistance of health care aids.  It can be a challenge to find health care providers who are willing to provide care for our loved ones inside the home. Finding help takes time and effort, but it will be worth it in the end.
5. There is also no shame in asking other family members and close friends to run simple errands, and to help with small housekeeping tasks, or to prepare a meal when the need arises. 
6. It is no secret that the nutritional needs of many seniors is exceptionally important, especially if they are ill or fighting off disease.  Many seniors are at risk of being malnourished due to a lack of appetite.  Shopping for food and making every single meal from scratch can be a lot of work. This means our kitchen should always be stocked with ready-made meals so our elderly does not skip meals, and thus ensure they meet their nutritional needs on a daily basis
7. Caring for an elderly parent can eventually place us with serious financial burden overtime.  A good way to reduce the financial burden of caring for an elderly parent is to seek out the financial support we need before it all becomes too much.  Finding government and private benefits programs that cover some of the costs of supporting an elderly parent is recommended.
8. Create opportunities for our loved ones to play an active role in the day to day activities of our family and in our community.   We can ensure that they are physically active, as this would help them to be healthier and stronger.  Encourage them to join a sports club nearby or even a walking group.  This would keep them outdoors occasionally, and make them feel better about themselves.  Isolation can be a major cause of emotional distress for older people.
9. Keep abreast of new technologies that can improve every aspect of care our loved one receives.  These may be as simple as FaceTime appointments with their doctor, or as advanced as safety monitoring systems connected to a coordinated care network.  Try to keep up to date with the latest innovations in elder care and best practices in long term care.
10. Make sure the environment in which our loved ones live is safe, encourages their independence, mitigates any risk of injury or harm, and give them the feel of their own personalized environment.

One of the most important aspects of caregiving is to put ourselves first, before caring for others. If our health fails, who will look after our loved ones?

Prioritize our self-care by nourishing our body with healthy and nutritious meals.  Getting good quality sleep, drink plenty of water, and also find some time for exercise at least 3 times per week.  

Most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for help if we need a break.