Providing Top Care For The Elderly

August 26, 2020

The rising prevalence of aging societies is not just a challenge for healthcare providers, national governments, and policymakers to solve.

It affects everyone who has an elderly family member or a loved one, and those lucky enough to grow old. In most cases, baby boomers are tasked with caring for their families and their aging parents.

Put your House Together

Most senior citizens fail to prepare for their retirement and old age. Americans need to plan for their long term care. Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are not desirable or affordable for most people, which is why people should put their house in order before the need arises. According to this website, you should take control of your future, and estate planning is your first stop. Planning ensures you make informed decisions about how you will pay for your elderly care expenses and protect your assets.

In most cases, baby boomers have to overcome the suddenness of the need for elderly care. A week ago, your dad was playing golf, and today he is hospitalized because last night, he got a stroke that incapacitated him. Parents and their children do not talk about the parents’ preferences when it comes to elderly care. It is advisable to have a conversation early before a crisis occurs.

East or West, Home is the Best

The senior set prefers home-based care to assisted facilities. However, in most cases, people tend to underestimate the costs associated with nursing homes and overestimate the expenses of in-home care, which leads to them choosing nursing facilities. According to a study by AARP, 90% of people over 65 said they would like to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Honoring this wish can be costly and complicated. However, with technological advancements, more home-based care options are available.

In the 1990s, there were only two options, your daughter’s house or the nursing home. Now there is a proliferation of options that evolve every day. It is time people start recognizing the affordability of non-medical home-based care. You can hire a care provider for $10 to $27 per hour. If you need a nurse to administer insulin and other drugs, the costs can range from $75 to $175.

Enable Snocial Inclusion

Isolation, boredom, and loneliness are the most prevalent issues among older people. This could be compounded by their inability to move as they did before. The inability to drive themselves to the mall or hospital compound their loneliness. Worse still, seeing their friends pass away increases their sadness. Older people have fewer chances of socializing and getting involved in social engagements.

To prevent emotional breakdowns, create opportunities for your parents to play an active role in the family and community. Even when you have hired a caregiver to tend for your parents, there is a possibility of a lack of excitement and satisfaction. Your aging parent might lack social connections with the caregiver. Take a few days off and stay with your parents.

When seniors get lonely, they end up engaging in risky behaviors such as lottery, sweepstakes, and gambling. While reputable organizations run most of these activities, some people will take advantage of your parent’s naivety. Children should protect their parents from such schemes by staying closer to them.

Create a Safe Environment

Most older people choose to age in a place they used to live and are familiar with. The environment in which your loved ones stay should encourage their autonomy and independence, and mitigate the risks of harm or injury, especially for those who live independently or with minimum supervision. Falls are the leading cause of death and injury among the elderly in the United States.

Underlying medical problems coupled with unsafe environments, make senior citizens prone to injuries caused by falling.

Here are two tips to ensure a safe environment:

Assess Potential Health Hazards

You should assess the home to identify and remove potential hazards that could cause accidents, illness, or falls. If there are rooms with slippery surfaces, replace them with rubber.

Perform Home Modifications

Modify the home to make it more elderly-friendly. The house should be tailored according to the person’s disabilities and limitations. Rearrange the furniture to create a bright and unobstructed path for your parents. Alongside major home modifications, you could also invest in an adjustable hospital bed for home care to ease up sleeping and prevent bed sores.

Most baby boomers have a busy schedule, and taking time to care for their aging parents can be challenging. It is quite hectic to keep up with work, raise a family, and give your elderly parents attention.