Kimberly C. Smith asked:




There are many things to consider when asked to care for an elderly person. It may surprise you to know that 70% of elderly care is provided by family members and friends. Many think they can take care of an elderly person, but it takes a very special person to do it well. Elderly care is a challenging task - one that is also inevitable. Oftentimes, adult children experience sadness and depression as they watch a parent who was competent and capable become frail and needy.

If the present goal is for the senior to live independently in his or her own home, there are many safeguards to be considered and installed as soon as possible. Among the obvious are grab bars in the bathroom and hallways. Another improvement in the bathroom would be a shower stool. An emergency system needs to be in place in case the elder needs immediate assistance as in the case of a fall.

Senior citizens are finding in these technologically advanced days many issues on their hands that they can’t handle by themselves. Older people are also now living well into their 80s and beyond. At some point, the decision about assistance will need to be made. The determination of the need for senior care services and the choice of a facility is an extremely important decision.

Do your homework. Talk to people who are already taking care of an elderly person. Also check out the many online and community resources geared toward senior care. Whether it’s assisted living or a nursing facility, our seniors deserve caregivers who are compassionate and caring. Learn about LTC (long term care) insurance and all aspects of care (including costs) in the last stage of life. What you learn may even help yourself some day.

Elsie

Christain Cullen asked:

It’s the weekend and time to make the call to your mother back home. But when she answers, her voice is slurred and she’s talking about things that don’t make sense.
Something is wrong.

Strokes can happen at any time. A myriad of medical conditions can happen at any time in men and women over a certain age.

Your mother has suddenly gotten old and you realize the clock has ticked to the time that comes to many of us. It is now she who needs looking after not you.
It is a role reversal that can create headaches, and be a shock to the system.
You can make the job easier by thinking ahead and discussing the options with your parents while they are still in sound mind. This not only helps with planning, but also lets them know that you care and are thinking about their welfare.

At the very least, you can have contact numbers on hand for elderly service providers for when the crisis comes, particularly if you live a long car ride or plane trip away. Know their doctors’ names and have a copy of their medicare numbers, if they have them.
Exchange phone numbers with one of their neighbors for emergencies and make sure you have a set of keys for their home.

Keep a list of their medication, including dosage. This includes non-prescription drugs as well as prescription drugs, as there can be side effects when drugs interact.
Once the shock wears its way out of your system, if it ever does, there are not just emotional, but financial and practical matters to consider.

Where are their important documents, like wills, kept? Someone should be made enduring power of attorney to handle financial and legal matters. All paperwork such as bank statements, records of mortgage or rent, insurance policies, taxation, benefits and welfare, should be in order.

Caring for the elderly is tough, and with life expectancy rising, the chances you will be faced with this dilemma are growing. In fact, as the population ages, caring for the elderly parents while working is set to become one of the biggest challenges facing people all over the world.

What do you do?

If they are no longer capable of looking after themselves, you can move them into your own home, but what about your spouse and children? How will they react? Do you have the space? Are you equipped to look after someone who cannot look after themselves? You may have to consider wheelchair access, and other alterations to your home to make life easier for your parent.

Perhaps the parent doesn’t want to live with you. Maybe they will refuse to leave their own home, where they may have lived all their life, despite what the Doctor orders.
They could be vulnerable if left living on their own though, so keep a close eye on them, and find out about local home care agencies. You could investigate Meals- on-Wheels, transport options, and assisted living. You may be surprised at the community resources that are available.

There could be conflict. Involve siblings in discussions, if you have any, and their husbands or wives.

Share the burden.

There’s a nursing home, or retirement village, but costs can spiral and if you are not well-off then it can be a struggle. Fees are often not included in national health services. And arrangements care can take weeks, if not months.

Will you have to take time off work? Can you take time off work?

There is a mountain of things to consider.

What’s likely to hit hardest s the emotional aspect of seeing a once active and proud parent frail, and in some cases, incapacitated?

Even a slow decline can come as a jolt.

Looking after elderly parents can be a stressful period of your life, an anxious period. And it can arrive suddenly.

Jamie

Anna Watts asked:

Many people are wary of elderly people. They may seem senile. They may appear mean. Or they may look really sick. The reality is this: everyone gets old, and, as we age, our bodies begin to lose that youthful essence.

You may need to take care of an elderly person one day. It’s important to give them respect and compassion. After all, in most cases, they were the ones that took care of you, or those around you, when you couldn’t take care of yourself.

The first thing to remember when caring for an elderly person is that their physiological appearance has worsened. Hearing, vision and touch are the most obvious. You may need to speak louder, or come in closer when talking to them. You will also need to make allowance for their poor vision. Furthermore, the elderly are often more sensitive to pain and touch.

Second of all, the elderly begin to lose control of certain aspects of their life including bodily functions and memory. You need to remember that this is not their fault, and it is probably more frustrating for them than it is for you. Be sensitive, be understanding and be discreet about their trouble.

Third, an elderly person’s metabolism and immune system will most certainly slow down. In addition, their skin will become less elastic and more brittle. Make sure you keep them warm as cold air can damage their muscles.

They will also be more prone to diseases and viruses as their immune system is not working as hard. You need to keep them happy and healthy. This may include incorporating vitamins and minerals into their diets and ensuring they get plenty of rest.

Finally, elderly people will go through emotional changes as well. They will be coming to terms with death, especially when some of their friends die. They will also be frustrated about becoming dependent on someone else, especially after an entire lifetime of doing things themselves. They may want to talk about it; you need be compassionate and listen. They may not; and you need to respect their wishes.

Randall

Diana K Nielsen asked:

Caring for an elderly individual requires patience, dedication, understanding, and compassion.

Those of us who undertake this challenging, yet rewarding experience know that the road is sometimes difficult. We can feel frustrated or overwhelmed at times, when caring for aging parents, a spouse, or other loved one. The situation becomes even more challenging when you are caring for the elderly with a dire medical condition, such as diabetes. If you’re in this delicate position, you know this task can be very rewarding, since you’re able to show your loved one how much you care by assisting them with their needs. If you’re caring for an aging parent with diabetes, there are a few things you may expect to encounter during your time with them. By being informed, you can be prepared for these challenges:

Challenges with Diabetes Testing

As a diabetes patient ages, skin becomes more sensitive, losing its elasticity and becoming thin and fragile. Pricking a patient’s fingertip might not be the most easily accepted method of blood sugar testing. If they are hesitant, consider one of the newer types of glucose meters that require less blood with each reading. These models can be used under the arm, where nerves are farther apart than the fingertip, causing less pain. That should make both you and your elderly parent with diabetes very happy!

Challenges with Circulation

You are probably aware of the complications that can arise from a diabetic patient’s lack of proper circulation to their extremities. In elderly patients, consider massaging foot rests that restore circulation to the legs and feet. Help by preparing meals rich in vitamins, nutrients, and ingredients, like garlic and onion, that regulate blood pressure and promote good heart health, which will increase proper circulation.

Challenges with Insulin Injections

Aging hands are not as steady or precise as they once were; how can you make it easier for your loved one with diabetes to give themselves insulin? Advances in glucose meters and insulin delivery systems make it easier than ever to pump insulin when needed. Older, wired versions, while eliminating the hassle and mess of needles were cumbersome and don’t always work properly. Today’s digital versions, such as the Omnipod, deliver a precise measurement of insulin when needed, based on the wireless readings of a glucose meter. These little devices can store as much as three days worth of insulin and attach to the body in an out-of-the-way place for quick, convenient insulin injection.

Caring for an elderly parent isn’t always easy, especially with the addition of conditions such as diabetes. However, modern medicine goes a long way towards making the lives of a caretaker, and their diabetes patient, easier. Stay informed about advances in the diabetic supply [http://www.getyourdiabeticsupplies.com] industry in order to overcome these challenges. It will help make the time you spend with your loved ones less about their diabetic condition, and more about sharing quality time.

Stacy

Abhishek Agarwal asked:




Caring for the elders is a rewarding job, be it a paid employment in a nursing home or looking after an elderly relative. However, this is a mentally stressful role that may leave you exhausted to the point of desolation. Care giving requires patience and compassion and not all are able to perform this function easily. The job of care giving is easier if it is your own relative; however, it is difficult to develop the required qualities if you are taking up a paid job. Irrespective of whom you are caring for, you need to protect your own mental health in order to do your job efficiently. You can do a number of things to keep up your own perspective and mental health. A few tips are given below:

- Take regular breaks:
Spending some time away from the elderly person you are looking after will give you the chance to relax and be away from the pressure of the job. This could be a five minute break from the work or one day off to do something you like. This will give both of you the space required to collect your thoughts and refresh yourselves. This helps to keep sight of your perspective and help to perform your role better.

- Participate in activities that both enjoy:
Activities that both enjoy promote bonding and the common interests you share helps to build a strong base for your coexistence. If you are taking care of a stranger, you need to get to know them better. A family member is more familiar with you, so you can spend a relaxing time, together.

- Make arrangements to suit you both:
The elderly like their independence and therefore, most of them will not expect you to be present with them throughout the day. There may be others who want you at their beck and call. You can agree on the times you will drop by to look upon them and how you will be spending the time together. This however, is not applicable to caregivers at the retirement or nursing home.

- Establish a routine:
Setting up a routine will help the elderly to know what to expect from you and be comfortable with you. A change in the routine may upset the elderly and incite negative feelings. Most aged people do not like change and a set routine is reassuring for them. This will help you perform your role of caregiver smoothly, and may also prevent any complications that may arise in future.

- Seek professional help:
Taking care of an elderly person is stressful to say the least. If you find that this role is leading to depression, then you must speak to a professional counselor who can provide you some help in resolving the problem. Unburdening yourself with a counselor can be a good therapy for depression, and it will help you to continue your role of caregiver.

The tips mentioned above may or may not prove beneficial to you, because it all depends on your individual circumstances. Therefore, the caregiver should study the situation and find out what works best for both.

Claudia

Fatima Edris asked:




Not many of us are willing to take care of our elderly parents, so if you find yourself end up to care for elderly parents for a a period of time when they come to visit you or stay with you for a short time or forever. Please calm down, who says senior care is an easy task. However think again caring for us when we were young till we can stand on our own two feet is not easy either. It is time to pay them back. They deserve it.

I understand it can be harder, especially if they have health problems; but if you must be clear about the whole thing, your feeling and theirs, then you can smoothly balance the whole situation. The key is be selfless. Below are some caring for the elderly tips that will help a respectful, caring, loving and selfless child like yourself.

1. Don’t Hold Back - Spill it Out!

How to start caring for the elderly? First you must know who you are taking care of. Once that is answered, this will be a inquisitive point when you have lived with them for years because then the situation was different, they did not need your care and concern. Now it’s your turn to be a amateur in caring for the elderly, but if you have been with them for quite sometime! Know everything about them, you will not be panic.

Take some effort to familiarize with their favorites and essentials especially when it comes to food. Don’t forget to find out what they want to eat and what they have to eat and what they can’t eat, these are important because of their conditions right now. Again you should not ignore elderly people who have health conditions, you don’t want to be blamed or feel guilty if anything happened. Talk to their doctors if you have to find out about what is happening to your elderly parents. Remember who cared and nurtured us when we were sick and not well.

2. Be Attentive to Your Elderly Parents

Elderly parents are mostly secretive, there are some things that they will not unravel, either because they are shy about it or they have not fully accepted the situation they are in. The common examples of these are they have their moments of forgetfulness and memory lapses. Don’t scold them or shout at them, instead attend to them and note the things that you find unnatural. At this stage they are very sensitive. If you have enough budget, consult a specialist who can tell you everything you need to know about them. With this knowledge, you are better prepared for any eventualities.

3. It’s Time To Learn first aid

Although before this you think that you do not need to learn first aid, but now it is a necessity even if you may not need to use it in the future. It still pays to learn first aid. When caring for the elderly who are either weak or those who have health concerns, this is especially great in emergency situations. Furthermore extra knowledge is always good.

4. Find Out More About Their Problems

Be sure that you find out more on their health issue. Check out what are the possible treatments for their conditions, the risk factors involved for the problem and even the symptoms of an attack.

Lastly don’t forget to find out how to ward off the problems or minimize their effect and make sure that you do it at home. This is all part of caring for the elderly.

Aaron

Ann Lindsey asked:




Adult children are using a new approach for caring for their elderly parents who are staying with them. They may be recovering from surgery or an illness and need some assistance from time to time. By using a baby video monitor in their room to keep a watchful eye on them they are able to know when they need their help. With a video monitor they are able to see and hear their love one as well.

Baby video monitors can be such a great help for parents. Of course they are most widely used for monitoring a baby when the parent is unable to be in their room. And you can also keep a watchful eye on them when they are sleeping at night. But now they can do double duty making it such a versatile tool. Using a video monitor is helpful to watch your baby, your older child and now very useful for helping to care for elder parents who are ill and need you. Using a video monitor to monitor your sick and elderly family member you will be able to carry on with your household tasks and activities. This gives you peace of mind while accomplishing your tasks.

There are many options to choose from when deciding on which video monitor is right for your needs. Monitors with multiple channels of nine hundred MHZ will help to avoid interference from cell phones, scanners and wireless phones. You will have less static with a clearer signal. An on and off switch with a light indicator that lets you know when your battery is running low is a great feature. This allows you to change the batteries before they go dead. They can come with portable receivers so you can carry it around the house with you from room to room.

Some even have belt clips. Automatic infrared night vision is an option of baby video monitors allowing you to see at night. There are monitors that are capable of scanning the room which is a great feature for safety. Baby video monitors have become a useful and helpful tool in the family home.

Marjorie

Richard Johnstonn asked:




It really is not that unusual for individuals to live longer than their own mother and father did. Our inhabitants is aging and this implies increasingly child boomers are becoming chargeable for helping to make sure their parents have correct care. When you turn out to be one of many tens of millions of people who find themselves accountable for caring for the elderly you wish to be sure that your dad or mum is still having fun with a wholesome and fulfilling life. There are a lot of ways to do this.

In the event you’ve decided to invite your mother or father to live with you, there are several points that must be addressed right away. It can be fairly a difficult transition for a mature particular person to move from their own place, into the home of their child. It’s rather more comfortable for them if they’ve their very own area together with a bed room and a room the place they’ll sit and watch television, use their computer or work on a hobby. In case you have the room in your house, put some effort into reworking a quiet space only for the senior in your life. They’ll recognize it.

Another thing to contemplate is their health care needs. Many individuals have additional well being issues to think about after they turn out to be older. If you’re caring for the aged dad or mum in your life, be sure that they have the most effective and most economical health care insurance coverage plan available. If they have pressing medical wants that require residence visits by a nurse or aid, help them choose a well being care plan that features that. You don’t need to have your mum or dad in a state of affairs the place they are confronted with big medical bills.

Activities with different seniors can really enrich the lives of those who are retired. Many communities have facilities that afford seniors the chance to interact whereas taking part in lessons, or events. When you find yourself caring for the elderly mom or father who took care of you all your life, ask them what they’d like to be concerned in. Then arrange for them to attend a category or social function. Be sure that they have transportation to and from the vacation spot so it’s all stress free for them.

Most youngsters who care for his or her mother and father are still lively within the workforce and due to this fact can’t be dwelling during the day. This will result in concerns in regards to the mature individual’s safety should an accident occur or in the event that they abruptly become ill. There are companies out there that afford peace of mind to each the senior and the individual caring for the elderly. Some of these include a monitoring system that the senior carries with them, or tucks in their pocket. If something does occur, they merely push a button, and help is alerted. This is a great tool for ensuring the senior can still operate by themselves with the safety of realizing assist is only a moment away.

Virginia

Rich Herman asked:

There are many different elder care options available today. One option that you may want to consider is elderly home care. It allows parents or a loved one to remain at home, in familiar surroundings, and still get the assistance that they need. Often, caregivers include family, friends, or caregiving professionals that provide a wide range of senior home care services. This can be an ideal situation if you are caring for elderly parents or overseeing their care, where their primary needs are non-medical care.

In this type of setting, care can range from someone stopping in periodically, to a live-in caregiver that provides 24 hour care. Some examples of non-medical elderly home care may include: preparing meals or help with feeding, assistance with bathing and grooming, light housekeeping, assisting with medication, grocery shopping, bill paying or running errands.

In our particular caregiving situation, family members have teamed up to provide much of the home care for my mother-in-law, who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease. However, at times, we have enlisted the help of friends, our church family, and companies specializing in elderly home care services to provide for her needs. Even if your family is well equipped for caregiving, its important to be familiar with some of the senior home care services that are available today. Taking advantage of these services may give you the occasional day off or vacation that you need, without putting undo stress on your friends or family.

Even if you have other family members or friends that assist you in caring for a loved one, there are times when they are not available. At these times, being familiar with companies or caregivers that specialize in providing elderly home care can be important. Each local area normally has companies that offer a wide range of elderly assistance services. Normally, you can find these online by searching for the word “caregivers.” However, here are some nationwide, senior care service providers, that you may want to consider: Visiting Angels - visitingangels.com, Caregiver Needed - caregiverneeded.com, and Right at Home - rightathome.net.

These are just a few of the many resources that are available for today’s caregivers. Over the years we have been blessed to have family members and close friends that have teamed up with us to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. However, utilizing other caregiver resources has given us much needed breaks, while still providing excellent care.

Ana