Your senior loved one may need more help than they tell you. It can be hard for people to ask for help and even harder for loved ones to anticipate other people’s needs. So how do we ensure our elderly loved ones are managing their lives well if we can’t count on them to ask? After all, it’s important to be attentive to senior care. Let’s explore four ways you can help manage an elderly loved one’s care.
Meet Your Loved One Where They Are At
Your loved one is probably not used to asking for help. They have likely spent their entire lives serving others, raising children, working, and actively participating in their community. They might not know how to accept help at first, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer it. We recommend establishing a weekly visitation or more to begin establishing a good relationship with your loved one. You might start to prepare meals together, which will ease the burden of meal prep from them and ensure they have nutritious food to eat. Prepare enough food for a few days of leftovers and leave them with your loved one! This activity will also allow you to spend time together and discuss how their lives are going.
Offer More Help Over Time
Once you have established a healthy relationship with your loved one, you can begin offering more ways to help. You will likely understand where they need to catch up on tasks through your weekly visitations and conversations. For example, you may notice they forget what day to take the trash out or if they are having trouble getting the trash cans to the road for collection. Depending on their needs, you can create a schedule and hang it on the refrigerator to help them remember specific daily tasks. You may also ask a neighbor to help with trash can collection, or you might step in and do it yourself. You might also consult an internal medicine provider to establish your loved one’s care needs and health concerns so you can better serve them.
Help Your Loved One Remain Social
It’s easy for elderly loved ones to become isolated. In advanced years, our social circle may change a lot. In addition, we lose more people as we get older, which can affect mental health. Continuing to be a part of the community can be difficult and can be a reminder of the people our loved ones have lost, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many support groups for those dealing with grief, and there are many senior centers with lively groups of active seniors who want to meet people their age who can relate to their world.
Offer to assist your loved one to and from these events and attend with them until they are comfortable attending on their own. You might even make some new friends yourself! Having a social circle has many mental health benefits, and friendship adds purpose and meaning to life.
Caregivers
At-home caregivers are a wonderful option to take the anxiety away from caring for your loved one full-time. At-home caregivers give families peace of mind while caring for their elderly loved ones. Caregiving can be taxing emotionally and physically. Caregivers are professionals who manage the day-to-day lives of your loved one. Whether they need help with simple tasks, just a reminder to take their meds, or more extensive help like bathing and mobility, at-home caregivers can do it all!
Summary
You won’t regret spending more time with your elderly loved ones as they age. There are ways for you to be involved with care without being a full-time caregiver. Start by nourishing your relationship and establishing a deeper connection. Step in where you can and help your loved one remain social. Finally, look into at-home caregiving to help your loved one thrive. There are many customizable for at-home care that can progress as your loved one needs more assistance over time.
