Guest Post Author: Chris Palmer | AgeSpace

One of the hardest things we go through is watching as our loved one begin to require additional care. The people who you were so dependent on when you were a child are now in need of your support. The emotional struggle can be hard and even harder when you don’t know how to take care of them at home; so, we’re here to give you a hand. We have a 5-step guide on how to take care of older adults at home.

Start Talking
You should start talking to them about everything you think they are concerned about. Ask them where they want to live, ask them what their wants or needs are, find out about their additional activities, talk to them about your heritage or history and learn about some of your relatives or friends! Discuss any financial issues that you think should be talked about and just try spending time with them, so they do not feel neglected. Make them feel like they are a part of your lives, so they don’t drift away.

Make a Plan
Family members will often suddenly find themselves in the position of a caregiver to the older adults in their life. Planning can help you in so many ways, and you won’t even have to be worried all the time. You need to start by keeping your home a safe area for them. You can set up a first aid kit for your home, or get smoke detectors with strobe lights so they can quickly wake up when there is an emergency.

Keep them healthy
To take care of your loved one, you need to make sure that they have a healthy lifestyle. Encourage exercise as it aids in their motor skills and strength, which has the potential to reduce falls. If you feel that your loved one is unable to exercise or swim, then you can always schedule a regular activity session as it enhances their well-being and has so many emotional benefits and doesn’t require a lot of effort!

Embrace and Encourage mental/physical health
Medication management is so important for older adults mental and physical health. As a caregiver, remind them to take their medication and visit their doctor on a regular basis. Their mental health is just as important and sometimes overlooked by health care professionals, but you should keep an eye out for any symptoms of dementia and depression and notify their physician if symptoms worsen or change.

Consider a Professional caregiver
There are many challenging feelings of guilt and responsibility attached with family caregiving. However, you don’t have to do it all. Hiring a professional caregiver can help you feel more secure in the care you are providing and wards off burnout, which is a common side effect of caregiving. Additional help also allows for more time to promote the independence of your loved one as there are more time and patience to let them direct their care.

About Author:

This article was written by Chris Palmer who regularly shares advice on elderly care. In particular dementia and supporting your elderly parent. You can find more by Chris on https://www.agespace.org/.