If you have an aging loved one who needs care, you may struggle to balance their care with work and family. With all your obligations, how can you provide the best care possible for your relative? Here are four tips on providing the best care for an elderly loved one:
1. Get support from other family
You can't do this alone, so make sure you recruit other family members to help provide care. For example, if you have a sibling, ask them to take your parent to medical appointments or keep him or her company during the day. This is especially important if you're providing the majority of care, since you can quickly become overwhelmed.
2. Hire outside help
In-home health care is a great choice to help you manage your relative's care. An in-home nurse or medical aid can provide assistance with medication and devices as well as frequent medical check-ins. Here is a list of some in-home health care services you can expect:
- Hygiene assistance
- Diet monitoring, if your loved one has a special diet
- Injections
- Medication compliance
- Physical therapy
- Wound care and dressing
- Sore prevention
- Prevention and monitoring for development of serious injuries or illnesses
3. Make your home safe
When you're at work or taking your children to school, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your loved one is safe. Set aside a weekend, with the goal of making your home as safe as possible. Here are some tasks to check off your list:
- Reduce tripping hazards by removing rugs from floors and carpet
- Place rubber guards on corners of counters, walls, and furniture
- Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors work
- Check that all areas of your home are well-lit. Replace bulbs and add lighting if necessary
- Install non-slip grip bars in the bathroom
4. Keep your home climate controlled
Your home needs to be temperature controlled, especially in the summer. Elderly people may not be aware of how hot they're getting, or if they're getting enough water. Your loved one can get sick in the heat and not realize it. Set an automatic thermostat to keep the temperature inside at around 72 degrees in the summer, and 70 degrees in the winter. If necessary, keep a lock box around the thermostat so no one can tamper with it. Also, make sure your heating and air system is maintained and in good repair.
These are ways you can provide great care for your elderly loved one even if you have a busy life. Contact an in-home care specialist at a location like Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living today for tips and information.
