As we age, we tend to require different help and assistance. If you have an elderly loved one in your life, this can be a pretty odd experience. Many of us find that the elderly individuals in our lives are the very same people who helped to raise us. They’re parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, family friends and more who supported us when we needed it most. For the tables to turn and to see these individuals in need can be quite odd and jarring. But it’s important that you step up to the plate and provide the help and assistance that they need to lead the best quality of life as possible. Of course, there are countless ways that you can help the elderly individuals in your life. Perhaps some of the most important are the simple things, like checking in, giving them a call and keeping in touch. This can help to maintain your bonds, give them something to look forward to and prevent loneliness. You can help them with their routine tasks and chores, dropping them to doctors appointments, picking up prescriptions, helping with food shopping and more. But one major way that you can significantly improve your elderly loved one’s life is to survey thier living situation and to make sure that their home is providing them with everything they need to thrive. Here’s some more information that you can follow to achieve this goal!
Health
First and foremost, you need to consider whether your loved one’s home is appropriate for their given state of health. Some elderly individuals are in great health and don’t require much assistance at all. They can get on with their day to day lives as they always have, facing minimal challenges in their home. Some elderly individuals, however, do require ongoing health care and medical assistance, which can make living at home a little more difficult. Perhaps they need to take medication at particular times and regularly forget, or find it difficult to get out and about to health appointments as they should. If your elderly loved one requires ongoing and regular medical assistance – perhaps injections, medication or other options – you have two key options that can ensure they’re receiving the healthcare they need. The first option is in-home care. This can see you or a professional carer drop in as and when required to provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks. The second option is a carehome. This is better suited to elderly individuals who require routine medical procedures that require specialist qualifications and equipment. It is also recommended for individuals suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer’s, which could pose a threat to their safety if left alone in their own home.
Comfort
There are a number of changes you can make to your loved one’s home to make them more comfortable. These are options that appeal to people of all age groups, but that can prove particularly beneficial and life changing for elderly individuals. Browse Brosa Recliner Chairs for cosy chairs that tilt back and forth, moulding to your body and providing extra comfort in relaxing positions. You could consider a new mattress for your loved one, that better supports their body in their sleep. You could consider underfloor heating in spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms, which adds extra comfort during winter mornings and cold evenings. Small, additional comforts can make all the difference to an elderly individual’s day.
Practicality
As we age, our bodies face more challenges when it comes to carrying out routine tasks and chores. We lose mobility, we can experience pain getting up and down or in and out of certain spaces. Things we didnt’ even used to think about become hurdles that we need to overcome. It’s important that you look around your loved one’s home and make sure that everything is practical for them, allowing them to complete daily tasks and routines with as little difficulty and disruption as possible. Some considerations to take into account include:
- Stairs – getting up and down stairs can be a significant challenge for elderly individuals. Not only does the energy required getting up and down take it out of some elderly people, but the risk of tripping and falling becomes significantly increased too. One option is to install a stairlift, which makes getting up and down a lot safer and easier. A second (and widely popular) option is to consider a bungalow or ground floor apartment that doesn’t have any stairs at all.
- Baths – getting in and out of the bath can be extremely difficult for elderly people. Not only does it require getting up from a lay-down position, but it’s also a wet environment that can be slippery and difficult to maneouver. This is why walk-in baths have been developed. These baths have a door that allows people to get in and out easily, without having to lift the legs excessively high.
- Support Rails – lowering into seats and getting up from seats can be tricky when you’re older. It’s a good idea to fit support rails in spaces where they can come in useful. Support rails in the bathroom are a good idea, as well as support rails near favorite seats in the home.
Social Life
Some elderly individuals like to keep themselves to themselves. Maybe they live as a coiupel and this meets their social needs sufficiently. Perhaps they’re not very social in general and prefer their own company or the company of a pet. However, if your elderly loved one is experiencing loneliness and you can’t find sufficient time around work and other responsibilities to spend daily time with them, you may want to consider a care home with them. Care homes place them in a social environment with plenty activities, meaning that they can routinely engage with other individuals in their age group.
Safety
As we grow older, we can lose our confidence or grow scared of things that we didn’t used to be scared of. It’s a good idea to make sure that your elderly loved one is feeling truly safe and secure in their home. This can help them to rest easier and feel happier and more comfortable at all times. There are so many safety features on offer out there, that you should discuss those that your loved one may be interested in. A good example is light sensors in the garden. These go off when people head into the agrdsen space, alerting your loved one to the presence of someone outside or on their property. It can also cause trespassers to quickly flee. Another option is CCTV, which will monitor the property and can deter criminals who might otherwise pester your loved one. Another great option is an intercom system, that allows them to ask who is at the door before opening it.
Boundaries
Of course, it’s important to respect people’s decisions and boundaries. Just because someone is old, doesn’t mean they can’t make their own decisions. Respect your loved ones’ thoughts and choices when it comes to making any modifications to their home or living conditions.
Looking after your elderly loved ones should feature highly on your list of priorities. There are so many different things that you can do to improve their quality of life and you should do your most to provide as much as you can to ensure that they’re safe, happy, comfortable and positive. Hopefully, some of the information above has introduced you to a few ideas that could make all the difference. Take some time to look further into them. Your loved one really will appreciate it!
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