The
Elderly is the stage of your life when we need some special care and treatment
to overcome elderly difficulties. Home care is the best treatment for elderly
care because home provides us a lot of peace and comfort that is never found in
any other place. Another most effective point is the companionship of their
people helps them to recover faster.
If
you have elderly parents at home, follow these 5 pointers that will help you
plan better, and take proper care at home:
1. 24 hours of companion care at home
People,
when grows elder, may start to feel lonely just because some of their friends
passed away or they are unable to go for a social visit. Then they develop
anxiety and depression. In this stage, they search for a companion who stays
with them 24 hours. You can appoint a home care assistant or caregivers who provide
help at-home services. The home care assistants provide companionship and even
play board games, cards and puzzles. They also go with them on a social visit
with them. Encourage them in their favorite work such as writing, drawing, book
reading, and singing or watch a movie with them. Companionship gives a great
result in keeping them happy. This has
increased the preference for care at home services by many people having
elderly parents at home.
2. Makes some immediate changes in the house
Some
small things can create obstacles in the house for the senior person. that must need to change immediately for care
for the elderly at home.
●
Strips, skid-mats, or
other slippery things must be removed from the bathroom and toilet to prevent
falls.
●
Remove unnecessary
furniture from the house so that your elders can move around freely.
●
Ensure that their
toilet and bathroom are near their bedroom.
●
Some safety devices like
a smoke detector and anti-scald devices must be present in the house to prevent
serious accidents.
These
small changes at home are also a part of care at home routine that will prevent
the elders from accidents.
3. Maintain physical fitness regularly
Exercise
is an important part of our everyday life to stay healthy and fit. And in the
elderly, exercise is the most effective part of home care to remain physically
fit. Exercise helps to improve their strength and balance. It helps to prevent
osteoporosis, diabetes and heart disease. Exercise may even help in cognitive
functions. A healthy exercise, yoga or meditation regularly will help in removing
lethargy which is common in the elderly. Exercise can even help in blood
circulation and increase the flexibility of the body.
4. Be careful with their medicine
Medication
helps us to stay longer and healthier and there’s no difference for the elder.
But taking the wrong medicine or mixing a certain drug can be dangerous for
them. So, you need to be very careful with their medicine. Give them the drugs
that only prescribed by their respected doctor. Make sure that they take their
medicine from time to time and take proper medicine. After a certain time visit
their doctor and discuss their current problems.
5. Treatment for chronic disease
With
aging comes forgetfulness and for some, it can become dementia. Home care service
is the best treatment option for chronic disease. Make sure that they must be
busy in some activities that help to recover dementia. Caregivers or home care
assistant may be a good companion for them. They will help them to perform some
cognitive activities to improve their brain function and strengthen their
memory. Care for the elderly at home is very effective to treat chronic
degenerative diseases.
What is palliative care at home?
Palliative
care is an approach to improve the quality of life of the patient and the
family both. It is a special type of medical care to relieve from a
life-threatening disease or serious illness. Palliative home care is an
important step to make life better for the elderly and their loved ones. This
service is provided by a trained team of doctors, healthcare specialists, and
nurses. The team works on a patient’s needs not on their prognosis.
Palliative care at home
involves:
●
Personal assistance
care such as bathing, dressing, and toileting.
●
Support in pain
management at home service.
●
Help in walking around
the house.
●
Helping hand for the elderly
in their housekeeping duties.
●
Companionship and
mental support to make them enthusiastic.
●
Help them with proper
medication.
Palliative
care at home may sometimes beneficial for the patient. It gives them peace of
mind and a familiar atmosphere to relief faster from pain and stress,
Cost for home care
Senior
Citizens can be taken care of by their families if people are staying along
with them throughout the day. This saves the regular costs that have to be paid
to nurses or attendants for this purpose. In other cases, nurses and attendants
can be kept at home and they charge regularly as per their hours of stay.
Generally, in India, such shifts of nurses and attendants vary from 9 hours to
12 hours. In countries like the US, UK, Australia, and Middle East countries,
the shifts vary from 7-12 hours with hourly charges. Other costs include
medication costs, food costs and medical facilities required for elderly care at
home.
Final Lines
In
old age, people expect some extra pamper and love and this extra bit of love
can be given to them through care at home. Care at home ensures that the senior
citizens are near their family members. This also provides them with the power
of combatting with loneliness, ailments, physical and mental stress.
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