Although looking after elderly people may not always be easy, we must give our best for them to feel well. This is important because older people may often be sensitive to many things and they can sometimes feel like a burden to us. Moreover, they often feel lonely and think they don’t belong here anymore, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
To that end, let’s make sure our loved ones feel that they belong and that there is always someone there for them, just as they were there for us when we needed them most.
Get them to know somebody cares about them
Try to visit your elderly ones as often as you can, for this will give them a sense they are in touch with the world. Interact with them, crack a joke, comment with them on the politics or the latest events, give them a compliment. Make sure they are informed about what is happening outside so they can know they are still a member of society.
Keep them in motion
It is a good idea to take them to the backyard so you can together plant some trees or flowers in the garden. This will motivate them to go out of the house more often so that they can water the plants. It will also give them the opportunity to take care of something, which will make their day more purposeful. If they live on their own, you can try to get them a pet they can take care of.
For instance, a cat would be suitable for them since it can pretty often live on its own so it doesn’t have to depend on the elderly ones. On the other hand, they will have a fluffy friend that will always be happy to lie in their lap and listen to the stories from a young age. This can be very helpful for them because they will feel less lonely and more engaged with their new pet.
Keep track of their medications and finances
The elderly people may have some pride in themselves and thus may be shy to say if they are running out of money, or they can’t afford expensive medicines. To prevent this, make them comfortable to talk about their financial situation and speak openly about their needs. If they need treatment or medications, they should know they can always rely on your help.
Likewise, ensure that they are well supplied with medications and that they stick to the prescribed medicines. It may also be helpful to talk with them about how important it is to take medicines regularly and on time.
Special treatment
As time passes, their condition is unfortunately expected to aggravate since their body and the immune system weakens and thus they become more susceptible to various diseases. Also, in old age, they can suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, which can make them feel upset and anxious. In this case, without proper knowledge and training, it may be especially difficult for you to help them and get them what they want at the given moment.
In that sense, you should always seek advice from a professional and learn more about their condition. On the other hand, if you feel you can’t help them properly, you should consider hiring professionals to take care of them.
For instance, they may stay at a facility where they can get all the assistance they need. To that end, you may consider finding a good facility where there are people specially trained to look after and assist elderly people with neurological and other disorders. For instance, the health professionals at https://belairassistedliving.com/living-here/alzheimers-dementia-care/ provide information on facilities and taking care of elderly people. Also, facilities should have a high number of caretakers who will be in charge of your loved ones just like at the aged care facilities in Kingswood.
Take care of their home
The elderly may be able to clean after themselves, but this is usually not enough. In that way, hire a cleaning service at least twice a month so that they can thoroughly clean their entire house.
If you’re not able to hire a service, then at least look around the house and try to clean and arrange some things that you think need tidying up. They will certainly be grateful to you since they can feel ashamed if their house is messy.
Our elderly ones are the people who helped us grow up, providing us with care, love, and support. Now it is high time we did something for them when they need it most.
