While most people enjoy a relatively healthy retirement initially, the effects of aging can eventually catch up with everyone. Aging is part of life but it comes with all kinds of diseases and problems that make everyday life not so easy as we would like it to be. Of course, for every problem, there is always a solution and depending on the situation of your loved ones, you should be able to find the right one that will fit their needs and make them happy.
For most seniors aging in the comfort of their own home is vital and even though it might not be an easy thing to do but also not impossible. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that over 90% of people over 65 want to stay in the comfort of their own homes rather than going into assisted care. Because this is such an important matter, I thought that maybe it will be useful to write a list of things you should know about care at home for the elderly and that maybe it will come in handy if you will even be in the situation to care for an elder. Enjoy!
Psychological Needs
It is not important, but extremely important for an elderly person to remain in contact with the community, friends and family. A strong social connect network is very important for a healthy aging process. Isolation is no.1 problem among the elderly people, so you must do everything in your power to prevent that from happening.
Besides that, staying at home means staying in the place where all the memories are and that's another important thing for an older person that you should take into consideration.
Home Changes
In order for older adults to remain in the comfort of their own home, changes need to be made to meet their changing needs and for their own safety. I think what you need to do first is sit down, think the situation through and decide which changes are the most important and which can be done later on. There's no need to turn the house into a working site when you can do the changes gradually without disturbing anyone.
Changes you need to take into consideration:
- De-clutter - this is not actually a change, but it's something that needs to be done in order to properly change a house. We all know how much stuff people can gather in a lifetime and you don't need to throw that away (memories) but you need to deposit it somewhere where it won't get in the way. Of course, you will find plenty of unnecessary things too, those you can donate or throw away, it's up to you. The important thing is to make enough space for an older person to move around without any difficulty.
- Lighting - an older person needs two times more light than a younger person, so with that in mind you can try higher wattage bulbs or install ample lighting throughout the house.
- Floors - this is a very sensitive matter. First of all, you have to get rid of all the small rugs that exist in the house. They are dangerous because an elder person can easily trip on them and fall. Try to install a floor that is safe for an older person and that is anti-slip.
- Stairs - I think you can agree with me when I say that a stair is no longer an option for an older person. It's far too dangerous but luckily you can use stairlifts at home. They are safe and they can make the life of your loved one much easier.
- Bathroom - here you have to make sure to install anti-slip mats, to change the shower into a walk-in shower (much easier to use for an older person), install handrails and even change the toilet seat to a higher one if it's necessary.
Financial advantages
Of course, taking care of your loved one at home it's much cheaper than living in an assisted community. Just imagine, moving costs, monthly payments, it's something that can go over the budget, so if you have the possibility to skip it, you should take it.
Independence
Home care allows the elderly people to have a sense of independence that they wouldn't be able to have if they were to live in an assisted community. They can leave their homes to go wherever they please whenever suits them best. Similarly, they can eat when they are hungry as opposed to when meals are served to them. Maintaining this sense of dignity is important, as it is something many seniors fear losing.
These are just a few things but I hope that you can realize now what a big difference the care at home makes compared with the other alternative.
No comments