Everyone comes to a point in their life when they will have to rely on others for upkeep and wellbeing. Even though this is a sad reality for most people, old age comes with its baggage, and one of them is extreme reliance on others for simple daily care needs. It is vital to remember that grandparents once dedicated a vast portion of their life, taking care of their kids. as a result, it is normal to reciprocate and be there for them when they need their adult children. The entire situation can be pretty overwhelming but bear in mind that they have no choice, and it is not easy for them.
It
is not surprising why most people send their aged ones to a nursing home.
However, for many people who would like to take on caring for their
grandparents, it is essential to arm yourself with vital tips. These tips will
take the guesswork out of caring for your loved ones when they need you the
most.
1. Modify Their Home
Grandparents
are not as strong and active as they once used to be. It is not surprising,
many of them move around in wheelchairs. As a result, one needs to make sure
there are no hazards that could cause an accident in their vicinity.
A
few modifications you might want to consider making are:
●
Ensuring that the smoke detector
is active.
●
Installing a ramp for seniors on wheelchairs.
●
A handrail at the toilet or shower is a good idea.
●
Make the bathroom floor anti-slip.
●
Make sure the lighting is pretty bright.
●
Install strips of non-skid mats in every place prone to slippery
like the kitchen as well.
●
Get rid of all the clutters around.
●
Safely tuck away all cables to guard against falls.
2. Take Care of Their Expenses and Medications
It
is easy for you to anticipate and take care of the needs of seniors living
under your roof. These sets of people will need things like food, clothing, and
other expenses like medications. For people living alone or away from you, the
responsibility lies on you to anticipate their needs and make provisions. They
will need money for personal care like incontinence
products, health charges, and other daily expenditures.
It is also essential to keep an eye on their medication. For seniors on prescription medication, you need to make sure it is refilled as soon as possible. For grandparents on lots of drugs, the right idea is to get a pillbox organizer with labeled compartments. This makes it easy to simplify the process. Make sure you are aware of the possible side effect of any medication as well.
3. Get Help
Caring
for another individual is hard work, let alone a full-grown person. An adult's
needs grow with time, making it harder to keep up with the responsibilities
involved. As a result, it is perfect for getting help when you feel overwhelmed
by the process.
You
can involve the entire family in caring for the grandparents. The whole family
can agree on a care plan for the parent. It might be providing care on
scheduled days or making contributions to take care of other needs. The help
you will need might be to clean the house, meal preparation, running errands,
doctor visits, or laundry. Doing everything solo is a recipe for a breakdown.
There are times you might need to get away. Demand from work might make it
impossible to cope with the care plan. Having help can go a long way in making
sure your grandparent does not feel left out.
4. Keep Them Active
Exercise
is essential and will benefit seniors immensely. Keeping them curled up in a
single spot will not help. They must move their body and joints to keep them
active and in top condition. Leaving them alone all day is a recipe for
depression and other health issues. The exercise does not have to be elaborate.
It can simply be a walk to the park, jugging, dancing, or anything to get them
moving.
In
the same way, make sure to socialize with them. Look out for the community of
seniors and make them join. Socialization is vital to keep their mind active
and prevent dementia or other ailments associated with old age.
5. Give Them Healthy Meals
The
ability and desire of your loved ones to cook for themselves might not be
there. This places them at significant risk of malnutrition since they cannot
shop or prepare their food again. As a result, it is your responsibility to
keep them healthy through the right foods. Make sure they feed on fruits and
vegetables as they contain nutrients to keep the body active.
If
cooking for them every time seems too demanding, you can consider meal service.
There are meal plans that can take special orders and prepare meals to meet
specific requirements.
Conclusion
Taking
care of a full-grown human is a lot of work. However, it is a sacrifice one has
to make, considering that most of our parents sacrificed many things to take
care of us while we were young. This is a blueprint that can guide you on what
to expect and how to take care of your aged parents when they become dependent.
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