Helping An Elderly Person Who Has Fallen

 

https://unsplash.com/photos/MMhazsT2wtM

One thing we all want to do is make sure our loved ones are kept safe. This is especially the case when they are in their own home. After all, this is one place whereby they should feel safe and secure. However, there is no denying that the consequences of falls in the elderly include feeling anxious and worried. Sadly, a scary number of senior citizens fall each year, resulting in millions of hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room. We do not want this to happen to you are someone you love. So, with that being said, we are going to reveal everything you need to know about fall risks and what to do if someone has a fall.

Risk factors

Research has indicated that there are a number of different risk factors for falls. This includes environmental hazards and a history of previous falls. Research also indicates that women are more likely to fall than men, as there have been frequent falls in middle aged women. Other risk factors include heart disease and stroke, as well as other chronic and acute diseases and disorders. There is also evidence that medication can increase the chance of taking a fall, for example, antidepressants and analgesics. Your nutritional status also matters, for instance, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to falls. Gait disorders, a lack of mobility, balance, and physical ability all matter as well. Sadly, we have also seen that falls have happened due to negligence, and so nursing home neglect lawyers may need to be hired to assist with this. 

Falls prevention

There are a number of different things that you can do in order to prevent a fall and reduce slips and trips. This includes adding handrails and other pieces of useful aids around the home. You should also avoid wearing clothing that is loose, make sure the lighting is right in your home, wear non-slip shoes, and clean up the clutter. It is also important to remove or repair tripping hazards and living on one level can also be beneficial.

What to do if someone has fallen

If someone you love has fallen, it is important to stay calm and encourage your loved one to do the same. You need to examine them for possible broken bones, sprains, bleeding, and bruises. Find out if they are experiencing pain, where it is, and how bad it is. Don’t move your loved ones if they have a serious injury. You should call the emergency services and keep them as comfortable and warm as possible until help gets there. If they are not hurt badly and they want to get up, make sure you go slowly. If they experience pain, become stuck, or get too tired, then you should stop.

Consider further care

Another option to consider when it comes to helping your elderly loved ones is to consider further care. For those who might not be quite safe enough to live fully independently and for those families who may not live close by, it’s important to ensure their care is covered in some way or another.

There are plenty of services out there, including primary care house calls which help those get assistance throughout the day and is a compromise instead of putting them in full-time care. The longer you can keep their independence the better.

So there you have it: everything you need to know about fall risks and what you should do if someone you know or love has taken a fall. We hope that the information that has been provided in this blog post will be useful. We know that there is a lot to take into account. However, the most educated we become about something, the greater chance we have of prevention.

The Conversations We Need To Think About Having With Our Older Parents

Have you noticed that a parent of yours is a little less capable than they used to be? Perhaps they’re a little less mobile, or complaining about aches and pains more, or even a touch forgetful? As we age, it’s a fact that we’re going to need a little more help than we used to. You need to be compassionate as you approach these questions, but it will be important to address them.

Credit - Pixabay License

How they’re getting around

Few people live close to the essential destinations they need daily access to, be it for grocery shopping, to see the doctor, or otherwise. As we get older, our driving skills can begin to suffer impairments. For that reason, it might be worth asking your parent if they have been driving just fine lately. If they have had any accidents or even near misses lately, then it might be time to consider offering to drive for them instead of putting them at such risk again in the future.

The health issues they may be experiencing

The majority of people don’t want to worry their loved ones, regardless of their age. As such, they may be likely to keep quiet about or at least downplay symptoms they may have been having. However, it might be a good idea to bring up the idea of an annual physical, something that we should all be doing anyway. Make sure that it’s clear your wondering about health comes from a place of concern first and foremost. People can be stubborn if they think that you’re trying to push them into making any decisions for them.

Where they’re living and with who

If your loved one is having trouble taking care of their daily needs, such as feeding, washing, and transporting themselves or there are real concerns of health risks if they are living alone, then it might be time to address their living situation. It can be a scary topic to consider, so it’s a good idea to do your research ahead of time to find good senior living care and facility options. Otherwise, they may assume the worst about where and with whom they’re going to end up.

Their plans for the future

No-one likes thinking about the idea that their life is going to end but it’s a reality that we should all address as soon as we are able to start planning that far ahead. A good way to broach the topic of end-of-life instructions is to bring up that perhaps you have begun planning your own estate. Trust is essential to help in this regard, of course, so if your parent isn’t willing to trust you in helping in this regard, you should at least encourage them to talk to an estate lawyer about it.

Remember to keep your parent’s experience and viewpoint as the most important weighing factor during all of these conversations. Encouraging them and considering their needs and wants is the best way to get them to cooperate.

Caring For Others - The Most Meaningful Thing You Can Do

 

Pexels - CC0 License

In the West, we have quite a narrow definition of success. We think people have “made it” if they offer other economic value. 

But when you dig a little deeper into the emotional lives of the people who do amass a lot of wealth, you soon find that there are problems. They have a lot of resources, but they’re still searching for meaning and value in their lives. 

The problem with this definition of success at the moment is that it is all about the individual. It’s about acquiring some sort of personal pleasure at the end of the road. 

It never actually winds up satisfying you. There’s always some new mountain to conquer. 

When you care for others, though, you redirect your energy away from yourself and onto another person. In a sense, you forget about your desires - and that can offer a lot of relief. 

You can see this ethic in action in the caring profession if you click here. The founder of the first hospice, Cicely Saunders, was famous for valuing the quality of life of the individual. For her, it was all about the other person - and that gave her meaning. 

The benefits caring for another person can bring you personally are enormous. It takes you off the treadmill of economic success and allows you to become a more generous person. 

Getting A Sense Of Accomplishment

Pexels - CC0 License

Getting a sense of accomplishment can be a challenge sometimes. You’d love to feel great all the time about what you’ve managed to achieve in your life, but many of your personal victories aren’t what you thought they’d be. You hoped that getting a raise or a relationship would make you feel complete, but it didn’t. 

Switching your focus outwards towards other people can feel like a massive challenge. But when you do it, it can make all the difference in the world. All of a sudden, you feel like you’re providing meaning. And importantly, you get a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond anything you could generate for yourself. 

Feeling Worthwhile

If you sometimes struggle to feel worthwhile in life, then caring for other people could be a way to help. When you care for another person, you suddenly take on a “parental” role and gain responsibility. Somebody else is relying on you to help them navigate their lives and improve their condition. 

Growing Personally

Pexels - CC0 License

Personal growth is a strange thing and can come from practically any situation. It often comes from the unexpected - when you change the status quo and do something different. 

Caring for another person with challenging needs could be the perfect avenue to help you feel like you’re moving your character forward positively. When you look after somebody else, you often have to suppress your desires and develop your powers of empathy. It can be a tough road, but it’s one that’s worth taking. At the end of it, you’ll feel like a much more loving and warm person. And, frankly, that’s because you probably are!

Should We Help Our Older Relatives Purchase a Mobile Phone?

Image credit

If you don't feel like you are in contact with your relatives enough, why is this? When we are pretty much glued to our phones but don’t use it for actual talking. we've got to think that if we are not speaking to our grandparents or older relatives as much, we have to rectify this quickly. But when we have so much stress in our lives as we might feel that we don't have much of an opportunity to truly speak to people in our lives. But also if you have got parents or grandparents that aren't au fait when it comes to communication, it may be time for them to join the mobile phone generation.

While your parents or grandparents may not be able to operate an email account or social media, giving them a mobile phone can be a lifesaver of sorts. As they get older and become less mobile, giving them access to a world of information at their fingertips can make life considerably easier for them. While they don't need to set up social media accounts and scroll through news feeds all day, a mobile phone can make a massive difference to them, especially if they are feeling stuck at home. Take a look at the infographic below to explore what the best mobiles for older people are. If we are concerned that we don’t speak to our loved ones enough, but they aren’t “tech-savvy,” it can be a fantastic way, not just to improve communication between family members, but it could potentially save their life one day.

Infographic Design By Fanmi Senior https://www.fanmisenior.com/news/what-is-the-best-mobile-phone-for-older-people-infographic

What To Consider Before Caring For An Elderly Relative

Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

We are all getting older, and as we do, we may often need someone to take care of us. If you have a close relative that needs to be cared for, it may fall on you to be that someone for them. 

But before you undertake the role of carer for them, there are some things that you should first consider. You’ll need to make sure that you are up to the task and fully committed. Caring for someone is more than a full-time job. It will take patience, resilience, and it will be both physically and mentally challenging. At times, it will be upsetting, and you may often feel as though you’re not getting a break. But there will be other times when you’ll be thankful for the opportunity to care for someone that you love when they need you the most, and it will be rewarding. 

Here are some of the things that you’ll need to consider when it comes to caring for an elderly relative. 

You’ll Need to Think About Their Mobility 

As people age, they are often unable to get about as easily as they may need. You may need to help them to get about their own home as well as if they go out anywhere. 

To do this, you should make sure that their home is tidy and free from trip hazards. Make sure that there are handrails for them to hold on to. If they need a walker or a wheelchair, make sure that these are provided for them. 

You may need to help to lift and move your elderly relative. If you need to do this, you should ensure that you think about your own safety first. Invest in some equipment to help you lift them and, if possible, go on a course to learn how to safely lift someone yourself. 

You’ll Need to Do Lots About the Home for Them

There will be a lot that you’ll need to do around their homes for them. This will mean cleaning the home, washing the dishes, running errands, and cooking meals. 

You’ll need to make sure that they get a balanced and varied diet. One way of ensuring this while saving time is to batch cook lots of meals. That way, you can simply reheat their meals as they are needed. 

You’ll Need to Think About Respite

Caring for an elderly relative is hard work, and it will take it out of you. You may have other responsibilities in life, such as a job or a family of your own. Because you cannot take a day off from caring for someone, you should think about finding senior centers that will allow you to take some time away or even a respite care center. 

Remember, if you are going to care for someone, that you’ll need to put yourself first. If you burn out as a result of caring for them, then you’ll not do a good job. Make sure you build a support network around you and take some time for yourself occasionally. 

How To Help Your Elderly Relatives Keep Their Independence

Watching an elderly relative suffer through illness and isolation can be such a tough time, as often it seems there is not much that can be done to ease their discomfort. However this may not actually be the truth, as implementing a few changes which can encourage them to gain some more independence can have a profound effect on both their mental and physical well-being. It doesn’t have to be tough to start supporting your elderly relative in seeking more freedom, as there are few simple ideas which might just be the perfect solution. So, if you would like to find out more, then read on to uncover some of the best tips and tricks that you can utilize to assist your elderly relatives in maintaining their independence (and quality of life) for as long as possible. 

Image Source - Pexels 

Revamp Their Home 

Many elderly people fear nothing more than having to leave their home to stay at a care facility, so one of the best things that you can do is revamp their surroundings to make it much better suited to their needs. For example, installing grab bars in hallways or around toilets can help your relative to get around their home without the need for assistance, whilst a foldaway chair inside their shower cubicle can massively reduce the likelihood of slips, trips and falls. If your elderly relative has several floors inside their home, it’s important that you can provide them with a means to get upstairs on their own. A simple stair lift can usually do the trick, however in recent years full functioning wheelchairs lifts have been successfully installed inside homes for quite a respectable price. Revamping your elderly relatives home will allow them to stay there comfortably for as long as possible. 

Help Delivered To Your Door 

There are many forms of support that can be delivered straight to your elderly relatives' door, from ‘meals on wheels’ to in-home care. Investing in the services of a meal delivery service is a great way to ensure your loved one is eating healthily, and it saves them the bother of having to go to the shop to buy ingredients as well as prepare and cook things too. Finding a reliable in-home care service is an essential feature of an independent lifestyle, so it’s important that you can search online such as ‘home health care services in Wichita, KS’ (specifying your local area) to identify the most trusted provider. Always remember to read previous reviews left by other customers to find out honest opinions on the quality of the service.

Helping your elderly relatives to keep as much of their independence as possible has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the amazing top tips, tricks and ideas detailed above. Supporting your loved ones through later life is such a rewarding experience, and knowing that you have been able to improve their day is bound to put a smile on your face! 

Ways To Care for Your Aging Parents

Image credit

Watching your parents age can be an emotional process, and you may wonder how to take care of your dad or mom in the golden years. While you still want to give your parents the independence they crave, you also want to make sure that they are safe and well. It can be a fine line to walk, but the most important thing is for your parents to know that you care and will continue to be there for them.

Help Them Stay Involved

Seniors can get lonely if they do not interact with other people from time to time. Because they do not work, they may miss seeing people on a daily basis. Consider enrolling your mom or dad in classes for senior citizens Desoto TX. He or she will be able to do fun activities with people of a similar age, and valuable new friendships might be made.

Visit Often

When looking for the best ways to take care of your older family members, one of the most important things to remember is just to visit often. When your parent does not see anyone for days at a time, he or she may feel restless and lonely. Just dropping in for a few minutes can show that you care and want to make them happy.

Shop for Them

Shopping can be a daunting task for an elderly person, and taking this weight off his or her shoulders can help a lot. Even if he or she wants to do some shopping on his or her own, you can buy certain items that are used frequently like toilet paper and laundry detergent.

Taking care of an aging parent is rarely easy, but it can be rewarding when you have the right attitude. Consider these tips for making it an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

3 Care Options for Senior Loved Ones

As people age, it can be difficult for family members to determine what level of care is needed for their senior loved ones. It can be especially complicated to balance the preferences and needs of the senior with the lifestyle and demands of the family member’s lives. When in this situation, it is important that family members understand that there are multiple alternatives options to consider.

Image source

1. Living With a Loved One

Some families are able to accommodate their senior loved ones into their own home and provide all the care they need. While all family relationships and situations are unique, many seniors enjoy being surrounded by people they know and love. However, some seniors with unique medical conditions or dementia may require more assistance than their family members can provide.  

2. Living Alone With Assistance

For seniors who wish to remain in their current place of residence, it is sometimes an option to have a nurse or caretaker visit the senior’s home as necessary. The level of care provided can often be customized to the individual’s needs. Assisted living facilities, such as adult foster care fall river, are another unique option for seniors that allow them to live in their own apartment-like room while getting help with only the tasks they cannot complete on their own.

3. Receiving 24/7 Care at a Facility  

For people with complex medical issues or advanced dementia, a skilled nursing facility, dementia care facility, or a similar type of living complex that offers around-the-clock care is sometimes the best alternative. There are also some transitional care residences that can alter the level of care provided depending on the individual’s needs, ultimately offering 24/7 care when necessary.

Knowing what options are available allows family members and seniors to develop a plan that best fits their unique situation. It is important to always consider the health and mental stability of the aging individual and to place value on both party’s preferences when deciding.

 

Strategies For Coping With Memory Loss

One of the more distressing things that can happen to someone as they age is the loss of memory. This can be gradual or sudden, but in either case it is likely to cause some problems and be quite upsetting for all involved. It will be especially upsetting if it is a great deal of memory loss, but even just occasionally forgetting little things can be annoying and frustrating too. However, no matter the reason behind it or how advanced it has become, there are strategies for coping with memory loss that we should all be aware of. Whether you have an elderly loved one who is suffering or you are starting to experience memory loss yourself, the following is all good advice.

Image Credit - CCO License

Sometimes The Rational Doesn’t Work

If you have ever been looking after someone with dementia, you will know perfectly well that it is not always possible, or necessary, to continue to speak to them rationally and logically. A lot of people think that they should try to bring the person in question back to the rational plane by continually telling them what it is that they have forgotten and what the truth is. But in reality, this is more likely to land you in trouble than help the individual in question. The rational doesn’t always work, and sometimes you have to just let them do their thing. If you are the person suffering memory loss, you can consider the same for yourself too, if you start to get confused about things.

Expert Care Might Be Required

If there is someone in your life who is struggling with extreme memory loss, perhaps as a result of being elderly and with dementia, then you need to consider that it might be time to find them some expert care. You might want to look into getting a professional carer to come and visit them, or even live-in with them, or you might prefer to get them into an assisted living program. With that kind of life, they can continue to live happily, while also receiving the kind of personal and medical care that they are in need of. And if the establishment in question also happens to practice memory care, then that is definitely going to be a plus.

Image Credit - CCO License

Staying Mentally Active

There is something to be said for staying menally active in order to help with memory loss, both in a preventative sense and in terms of in-the-moment care as well. There are many things that can help here, whether it’s doing puzzles like sudoku and crosswords or just making a point of reading something every day. Either way, staying mentally active is going to make a huge difference to how well one can remember things, and it is something that we should all think about doing from as early on in our lives as possible, to help stop ourselves experiencing severe memory loss later on in life.

Worried About Your Aging Parents? 4 Care Options That Can Help

Image credit

As your parents get older, your relationship will start to change. Shifts may be small at first but, over time, your roles may reverse. You have become the caretaker. The responsibility and extra work that comes with caring for aging parents are things that you may take on willingly. However, you don't have to do everything yourself. Learn about services that are available so that you can help your parents live their best lives. 

1. Companion Services

Social withdrawal and isolation is a big problem for older adults, especially those who are largely homebound. Combat loneliness by having someone come in to offer companion services on days you can't physically be there. Trained professionals like those from a home care agency Westchester County can play games, prepare meals, offer medication reminders and serve as a friendly face to brighten your parents' days. 

2. Housecleaning Assistance

Physical housekeeping tasks like changing sheets, scrubbing bathrooms and washing floors can be difficult for some older adults. They can also pose safety hazards that might result in a fall. Limit risks and take some of the burden of home care off your parents by tackling the larger jobs for them. If they don't want to put you out, offer to hire a service as a holiday or birthday gift. 

3. Respite Care

Are you a primary caregiver for a family member? Avoid burnout by seeking respite care. This gives you a chance to head out and practice some self-care without worrying about leaving a frail parent home alone. Look for resources in your community that support and assist caregivers. 

4. Transportation Assistance

Sometimes all an aging parent needs is a ride to and from the store, senior center or doctor's office. Offer a ride yourself, or connect them to an area church or senior services organization that can help. 

The best way to know what your parents need is to ask them. If they aren't forthcoming, or if they are unable to communicate their needs, take the time to observe them and the situation before rushing in to help. You'll be better prepared to meet their needs and possibly avoid a confrontation.

Things to Think About When Choosing Elderly Care

It might not be something that many of us want to think about, but there is always a chance that you may need some extra help to care for yourself when you're older. Once you reach a certain age, it becomes more likely that you might need care and support to help you live a healthy life. When you or someone you love needs care, there are options available, which help you to find the right type of care and the right living environment. There are some things that you can think about to make it easier to choose the best care option.

Care Needs

A person's care needs are the most important thing to consider when looking at care options. Different types of care facilities or services provide different levels of care in various ways. It can be useful to begin with a care assessment or assessment of needs. This identifies the things that the person may need help with and what sort of assistance they might require. It will help you to access the right services, including skilled nursing for seniors, home care, assisted living, nursing homes, and more. Even with high levels of care required, there are still options to choose from. Some people might choose a residential nursing home, while others might decide 24/7 home care is best.

Image from Pexels - Pexels License

Independence and Personal Space

Remaining as independent as possible is a significant concern for many people as they get older. No one likes the idea of relying on other people to help them take care of their own basic needs. However, there are many ways to maintain independence, even when you do need some extra help. When considering what type of care is appropriate, this is an important thing to keep in mind. If it's a residential care facility, do residents get their own rooms or own apartments? How much privacy and agency does each care option allow?

Community and Activities

Community is also an important thing to consider. Loneliness and isolation can be a problem for elderly people, even when they live in a care facility with others. It's important to consider whether someone who needs care will have access to a community of other residents and whether they will be able to go out into the wider community too. Having access to activities and events provides a way for people to entertain themselves and remain engaged and active.

Talk Through the Options

One of the essential things to do when looking at care options is to have an open dialogue. There needs to be a discussion with the person who needs care, if possible, their medical team, and their loved ones. When someone needs care, they should be asked for their input into what they want. Unless they are incapable of making the decision themselves, it should be down to them to choose what sort of care they will receive.

When choosing elderly care, explore all of the options available to find the right one. Everyone has different needs and preferences.

Adapting Your Home for an Elderly Relative

There can come a point in your life when you consider whether having your parents or other elderly relatives come to live in your home. It can be the best solution when someone might need some extra support or even if they just need to save some money. While it's not always an easy decision to make, it's often the one that people decide is best. If you're going to have an older relative come and live with you, you might want to consider the needs that they have. Although they might not have any particular needs now, it's worth thinking about how things might change in the future too. Making adaptations to your home can help to make them more welcome.

Image from Pexels - CC0 Image

Address Steps and Stairs

Struggling to get up steps and stairs is common for older people who might have issues with mobility. The first thing you can think about doing is addressing any steps or stairs you might have in your home. Steps at entrance ways could be replaced with ramps, but it's also possible to install a rail that your relative can hold onto when they go up and down. The same thing can be done for any small sets of steps you might have in split levels inside. When it comes to stairs, a stairlift is often the solution that works best.

Choose Adapted Furniture

Being comfortable when sitting and lying down are two things that everyone wants in their own home. Getting up and down can be difficult with limited mobility, but there are solutions that you can choose. One option to consider is lift chairs, which help people sit down and stand up, and are especially useful for those with back problems. Adapted beds are available too, and can be moved into different positions. Another thing to consider is an adapted bathtub, which can have a door on the side, or a shower cubicle with a seat.

Install Rails and Bars

Another solution that can be useful for your loved one is to install things for them to hold onto. These can be useful around the house but are particularly helpful when installed in the bathroom. Rails and bars can be used to hold onto when getting up and down, standing somewhere less stable (such as a slippery floor) or when transferring from one place to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. Think carefully about where these might be most useful.

Consider Sight or Hearing Problems

People with limited sight or hearing might also need some extra adaptations. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can benefit from tools such as doorbells with lights so that they know when someone is at the door without having to hear the bell. People with sight problems will benefit from having a neatly laid out home that they can memorize. Removing problems like loose carpet or clutter will mean there are fewer trip hazards.

When you adapt your home for an elderly relative, be sure to keep them involved. They should get a say in the changes that you make.

3 Ways To Deal With Reduced Mobility As You Get Older

As much as we’d all like to, we can’t stay young forever. As you start to age, you’ll notice changes in your body and you will start to lose mobility. Simple things like getting up the stairs or getting in and out of bed will become a lot harder. It can be tough to deal with, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t go on living a full life, you just have to make a few simple changes to your lifestyle. These are the best ways to deal with reduced mobility as you age. 

Source - Pixabay CCO License

Stay As Active As Possible 

A lot of people stop being active when they begin to have trouble with their mobility, but that’s the worst thing that you can do. If you want to take care of your health in your 50s and beyond, you need to keep moving. If you stop moving, your muscles and joints will become weaker and your mobility issues will get a lot worse. But if you continue exercising, you can strengthen your body and maintain mobility for longer. You might not be able to keep up with your normal routine and it’s important that you don’t push yourself too hard because you avoid injury, but you should find some low impact exercises to do instead. Walking and swimming are both great ways to keep your muscles and joints strong without putting too much stress on your body. 

Update Your Furniture 

Some simple upgrades to your furniture can make life a lot easier for you and help you to maintain your independence for longer. You can find some great Lift Chairs for Sale online which are ideal for people with reduced mobility. You can recline on them for extra comfort when sitting and they will lift upright so getting in and out is a lot easier. 

You should also consider an electric bed that you can lower to make it easier to climb in. You can also raise the legs slightly which improves circulation. Better circulation when sleeping leads to increased mobility during the day, so it can make a big difference. Raising the head will also help people that have respiratory issues which cause breathing problems while sleeping. This will help to improve your quality of sleep so you are more active during the day. 

Install Handrails 

When you are moving around the house, you may be a little unsteady on your feet, and that increases your risk of falling. But you can easily get around that by installing some handrails around the house. If you put some in hallways to steady yourself when moving from room to room, you can steady yourself. You should also add some to the toilet as well to make it easier to get up and down. Even though your stairs already have a handrail, it’s a good idea to add another one so you have support on both sides. 

Adjusting to mobility issues can be tough but if you make these simple changes, it shouldn’t have a big impact on your lifestyle. 

How To Take Care Of Your Aging Relatives

There comes a point when your parents start to move from active seniors into the group that needs extra care. And actually, as children, it is your opportunity to give back some of the care that you soaked up while you were little. Of course, the situation can be trickier from time to time. 

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

It helps if you have conversations in advance about things like care homes, home care, and even more serious things like ‘end of life care’. It can be difficult to have these conversations, but it is easier than trying to make them on the spot at a later date. 

Needs

There will be times while you are caring for your parents you see that you are getting overwhelmed, or the rate at which they need extra care is increasing. It pays to take a step back and asses the situation. Here are some areas that you can consider:

• Medical needs
• Personal Hygiene
• Meal Preparations
• Social Interaction
• Home Safety 
• Cognitive health - for example, what is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s? It is time to find out. 

Your Ability

While we like to think we are all as strong we need for as long as we need, the truth is from time to time, we will need help. If you are going over to your parents to care for them a few times a day, how will you fit in your own life and your job? Consider your situation too.

• How is your health?
• Do you have the time?
• Do you live close enough?

Control

It is very important that until they can no longer make decisions that you allow them to make as many for themselves as they can. And, you must know that you might not like what they decide. Like stopping a medication, or trying alternative therapies. In this scenario - you are the person who supports their decisions and helps them maximize what that means. 

Finance

It shouldn’t be a factor, but the sad reality is that it is. The cost of care stacks steeply and quickly. Nurses, medications, fitting specialist items like stair-lifts or moving to an assisted living home. All costs money and that is without the standard bills like food, electricity and heating. 

You might be able to apply for a range of financial help, but you’ll need to explore these with your parents in advance too. So that you know their situation and know what applies and what doesn’t.

Home Safety

There will come a time, that the chair that has always been in the hallway is a trip hazard rather than an antique. The beautiful bedroom rug causes an accident. The safety of the home will change. It is better that you take care of these earlier on. Adding grab bars to the bath, and outside any doors with steps. Give the rooms extra light too. And keep everything within easy reach. 

Caring for your parents or an ageing relative can be emotionally and physically demanding, so you have to make sure that you take care of yourself too.

Learning To Care For Your Oldest Family Members

Image Source

Age comes with wisdom, experience, and patience, and often makes people into the best versions of themselves. The time you spend developing your personality is incredibly important, with those who have been around for a long time often seeing far clearer than the people around them. Of course, though, getting older can also come with some less pleasant aspects. Your body isn’t made to last forever, though it will often start to show signs of degradation long before you’re done using it. In a lot of cases, this leaves families having to work tirelessly to be able to help the people they care about. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the work which goes into looking after the people you love.

Who Should Care?

Before you can get started with helping your loved ones, it’s worth thinking about who should be providing care to them. Personal care can be extremely intrusive, and a lot of parents won’t want their children doing it for them, making it crucial that you’re able to seperate the work you can and can’t do. Feeding, helping them to eat, and managing their paperwork are all jobs which won’t make them feel uncomfortable. Going to the toilet and washing themselves, though, should always be left to a professional.

Finding The Right Care

Finding good professionals to work with your loved ones can be a challenge. Not only is there a shortage of qualified carers in the modern world, but their skills are tricky to learn, and this means that they don’t always meet the same standards. For extreme care needs, options like hospice care can often be the best. Not only will this make it possible for your loved one to be around people their own age, but it will also give them the support they need to have a comfortable life. In-house carers can also be very good, though getting them can be a competitive game.

Independence and Entertainment

Finally, as the last area to think about, it’s time to consider the true support you can offer to your loved ones. Independence is crucial to someone who has gone through their whole life looking after themselves. They might not be able to do everything for themselves, but this doesn’t mean that you should be taking over everything, instead working to ensure that they can hold onto the abilities they still have. Alongside this, you also need to be there to provide them with entertainment. Sitting in a chair for weeks on end can get extremely dull, and a lot of elderly people find themselves getting depressed when they don’t get enough time with people they love.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of learning to care for the oldest members of your family. This sort of effort can be a real challenge, with people often seeming completely healthy until the day that they start to need care. Of course, as time goes on, you will learn enough to make this much easier.

Aging In Place: Is It A Good Idea For Your Parents?

(image)

Your parents aren't getting any younger, and there will come a time when one important question needs to be asked - should you let them age in place?

For your parents, they might answer in the positive. Many older people fear losing their independence as they get older, so the thought of moving into a care home might not be their preferred choice. However, if your parent has specific health issues, and they are living with reduced mobility, then you need to consider your options. You see, letting your parents stay at home isn't always the best option.

So, what's the answer?

The first thing you need to do is talk to your parents

It would be wrong of you to make any hasty decisions without consulting them first. In most cases, they will know their needs better than you, so they need to have a say in any decisions being made. Discuss with them the pros and cons of aging in place, and if their preferred choice is to stay at home, then you need to take other things into consideration.

You should consider the care needs of your parents

If you still have two living parents, then one or the other might be able to act as a caregiver if the other is struggling in any way. If you only have one, or if both parents are unwell and in need of care, then you need to formulate a plan. This begins by speaking to your parent's doctor. They will be able to advise you further, with possible options for letting your parents stay in place. For example, the doctor might refer you to specialist nursing agencies who will provide home care for your parents. And he or she might also give you guidance on any home modifications that will make life easier for your parents. If these things guarantee your parents will be safe at home, then aging in place is probably the right answer.

Consider why aging in place might not be the right answer

If your parents show signs that they aren't able to care for themselves properly, then another option might need to be found. So, if they have severe issues with their sight, for example, or if they are suffering from memory-related issues, such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia, then staying at home might not be the best answer, even with the assistance of home care nurses. You need to consider your parent's safety, after all. In such instances, a care home facility might be the appropriate way forward.

Consider why aging in place might be the right answer

If your parents are still able to look after themselves, with or without the assistance of home care staff, and they are keen to do so, then consider the benefits. For one, they won't have to leave the home they have stayed in for years, and for comfort and familiarity, this might be important to them. And because of the cutting-edge technologies available to make aging in place a possibility, it might also be cheaper to let them stay at home instead of paying for residence in a care facility. 

Think of a middle ground

If your parents are reluctant to enter a care home facility, but need the extra help, then you have at least two options. The first is to let your parents live with you, perhaps with the aid of a 

Granny Flats and Studio builder to provide extra living accommodation on your property. This way, you will be able to offer on-site care to your parents should they need it. Alternatively, you could move your parents into an assisted-care living facility that will still allow your parents to have some independence in their senior years.

And so…

Is aging in place a good idea for your parents? We don't have the right answer for you, but consider our suggestions and commit to further research. Let us know your thoughts too, and share any advice you have with us.

Take care, and thanks for reading!

Three Diagnostic Questions to Help You Describe Your Hearing Loss

Whether you’re just started to notice changes in your hearing, or you’ve been dealing with hearing loss for a while, it’s helpful to know how to describe your condition to your medical professional. These questions will help you describe your hearing loss for an accurate diagnosis.

Photo by kyle smith on Unsplash

How severe is your hearing loss?

This straightforward question is commonly asked by audiologists, but (for obvious reasons) can be quite difficult to answer. How are you supposed to know how severe your hearing loss is? You can only hear what you can hear! Audiologists will frequently use descriptors on a spectrum from mild to profound, with a large grey area in between. In general, if you’ve experienced mild hearing loss a conversation will be easily heard if there is not much other noise in the room and you are sat quite near to the person you are talking to. However, if there is music or other noise going on in the background, you may not hear so easily. Severe or profound hearing loss means you’re unlikely to catch what anyone is saying regardless of background noise.

What types of sounds are audible to you?

The most common form of hearing loss is known as high frequency hearing loss. The fancy name for the condition is presbyacusis. Elderly people often suffer from this. The effect for the sufferer is to make speech sound muffled and difficult to comprehend. While you may hear the words being said, you may not necessarily understand the meaning of the statement. Low-frequency hearing loss is the other side of the coin. It’s also possible to experience a loss of all frequencies in roughly equal proportions. You may find that you are especially sensitive to loud noise. Each different arrangement of frequencies that you can or cannot hear will affect your ability to understand speech and follow conversations. An audiologist may use words like sensory, conductive, or mixed, to evaluate your hearing ability and gesture towards which area of your ear has sustained damage. 

What’s that ringing sound I can hear?

Ironically, one of the most common symptoms of hearing loss is a ringing sound in the ear that does not come from an environmental source. The sound is internal. What is even stranger is that you are the only person who can hear it. A doctor may be able to diagnose the condition (tinnitus) but it will be purely based on your report, as they will not be able to hear anything themselves. Tinnitus can be debilitating at first, but once you learn skills to help you navigate your anxiety, the condition can be easily managed. Seek out professional help from your GP or an Audiology clinic in your local area. Mindfulness meditation practices have also been shown to be effective for tinnitus relief, as they help relieve anxiety.

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Unlike visible disabilities that cause reduced mobility, hearing loss is an invisible disability that is often left undiagnosed. This can make it difficult for you or your loved one to adjust to the limitations. Why the delay in diagnosis? Because if you are suffering from hearing loss, the chances are that you’re the last to know. If you would like to better understand your hearing loss, or the hearing loss being experienced by your loved one, these questions will help you get to grips with this difficult issue.

Helping a Loved One to Adjust to Life with Reduced Mobility

As we get older, our bodies change. We can’t always do the things that we used to be able to. We tire more easily, our joints don’t work as well as they once did and our muscles start to weaken. If we’re lucky, it’s nothing more than a gradual and natural part of ageing. But, for some people, it’s more than this. The changes aren’t always gradual, and for some, they begin to present much sooner than is the norm. When this happens, life can become harder, and day to day tasks can’t be completed as easily as they once were. 

If you have a loved one who has suddenly found their mobility reduced, or is finding life more painful than it used to be, they might be feeling very helpless as everything becomes more difficult. But, they might not be ready to move into care or an assisted living facility. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you can do to help them adjust and live in their own home, as comfortably as possible. 

Pixabay

Make Changes Around the Home

Reduced mobility doesn’t mean that your loved one is no longer capable of living alone. Nor does it mean that they need full-time help, or that they are going to have to stop doing things for themselves. In most cases, there are plenty of changes that you can help them to make around the house, that will make life easier and more comfortable. Some of these changes are big things like having wheelchair ramps installed. Others are much smaller, like moving the things that they use daily on to lower shelves that are easy to reach. 

Help Them In Public Spaces

One of the challenges that people with limited mobility can face is interacting with the public and infrastructure in public spaces. As a loved one, you should do your best to anticipate this and help them learn to navigate both these challenges. Society has come a long way in accommodating people with limited mobility, such as a disabled parking permit allowing you to park close to amenities. Access ramps and lifts are also widely available. The key to success here is to teach your loved ones how to spot the infrastructure built to help them.

Explore Their Options

There are always options. Changes at home should certainly be the first step, but that might not be the only change that they want to make. Look into home help with them, as well as exercise classes, therapy and physio. But, remember, you are there to help them learn more about these options, not to take over or make the decisions. 

Let Them Talk

When facing reduced mobility, or a sudden change to health, it’s not just the physical changes that can be hard to adjust to. They might be feeling lonely, scared and upset. What they might need more than anything else is someone to talk to and share their emotions with. Be that person if they need you to be. 

Help them to Find New Hobbies

A great way to help them to adjust to what life has thrown at them is finding ways to show them that this isn’t the end. They can still have a wonderful quality of life. They can still find new hobbies, make new friends and even find things that they are good at. They might just need a little push to find these things and someone to hold their hand as they explore new interests and hobbies. Take a look online for groups and activities in your local area and even look for support groups nearby.