Aged Care Tips For Home Caregivers
Taking care of a senior adult can be a fulfilling and eye-opening experience. It is an opportunity to bond with your aged loved ones and appreciate them for how they took care of you in the past. A challenge that most home caregivers experience is that they may not have taken care of an older adult in the past. This predisposes them to make errors that could affect their loved one's health and quality of life. If you happen to be a home caregiver, read this extract for some insights on how to provide aged care to your loved one.
Consider Person-Centred Care
The secret to excelling in providing home care is ensuring that the services provided are based on your loved one's needs. Start by understanding their health conditions. For instance, what difficulties do they experience in their daily lives? What medications do they take? What are their side effects? These assessments will help you know your loved one's needs and the level of care they need.
Aged care should be a collaborative and coordinated process. Ideally, you should work closely with your loved one's doctor, physiotherapist, and fitness trainers to ensure the care you provide does not compromise their health condition. For example, the doctor could recommend a specific diet while the physiotherapist could prohibit certain sleeping positions.
Create A Safe Environment
Older adults experience mobility issues that predispose them to falls. As such, you should install rails to support them as they walk around the house. Besides, lower some of the shelves to ensure they have easy access to toiletries, clothes, and kitchen utensils. The bathroom is the most slippery area of your home. A tall toilet seat, rubber mats, grab bars, and shower seats will make the bathroom safer for your loved one. You should also install a monitored alarm to ensure they have an easy time alerting you in case of a medical emergency or home break-in when you are away.
Allow Your Loved One To Explore Their Interests
Caregivers often treat their loved ones as incapacitated patients. This often leads to boredom since their loved ones spend most of their time indoors. As such, their health could deteriorate. Alternatively, they could develop stress or depression. Ask your loved one about their interests and assess how you can incorporate them into the care you provide. For instance, they might enjoy attending religious services, baking, vising friends, or participating in charity. Allow them to participate in activities that do not affect their health negatively. It is a sure way to raise their spirits and keep them empowered.
When providing aged care, consider person-centred care, create a safe environment, and allow your loved one to explore their interests.