Care giving: Conditions that Require it, Benefits of Home Care and Tips to take Good Care of the Elderly
In our earlier posts, we have discussed quite extensively about care giving, maintaining the health of the caregiver and necessary skills. There are several reasons why people need care. Many illnesses/conditions or injuries, whether chronic or acute, can result in the need for care giving which may be long-term, short-term or indefinite care.
Some of the health conditions that may require care giving include:
• Dementia / Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Mental health and psychiatric disorders
• Advanced heart disease
• Traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Advanced diabetes
• Debilitating arthritis
• Developmental disabilities
Home care benefits for the elderly
Caring for the elderly in the comfort of their home comes with a number of benefits and it’s also a great way to ensure your loved one is being looked after properly. Here are a few to consider.
1. Most older people want to stay in their home as they age, because it comes with the ability to live under their rules and in their comfort zone.
2. Staying at home often provides the elderly with a certain sense of dignity that would be lost if they were to move to a nursing home.
3. For family members, having their loved ones remain in the family home can be very comforting. The family won’t have to rely on memories and can continue to enjoy their presence.
4. Tranquility – As people age, they generally value peace and quiet over other comforts. At home, our older people enjoy the environment that they created and have enjoyed for years.
5. Personalized care: One can rest assured that your loved one will receive specialized, one on one care which help achieve their aim of ultimate comfort.
6. They can still participate in the activities they love, like spending time in their garden, or walking their dog around the block.
7. Their quality of life will be improved generally.
Things you should know while taking care of the elderly at home
In taking care of an elderly person in their home, there are several important things to consider while also embracing a holistic approach. Listed are few of what is expected of a good home caregiver.
1. You must understand your client and as well how much care is needed to be given. Creating a list of daily, weekly, and monthly care tasks helps you understand how much help is needed during the day, at night and on weekends.
2. Be very realistic about how much care you can provide without harming your own health.
3. Being your client’s confidant helps you understand them better and makes them very open in discussion. However, you must know when to stop in order not to cross the line.
4. You must be dependable, reliable and supportive to earn the total respect and trust
of any older adult being cared for.
5. Meeting your client’s needs and improving their general well being should be your ultimate goal. Retaining their dignity by giving them the respect they deserve.
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