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