5 TIPS TO HELP YOU PROVIDE CARE TO THE OLDER ADULTS
Aging is not only related to physical body changes such as grey hair and wrinkled skin. With age, the human body involves several psychological changes with a significant decline in biological functions. It further weakens their immune system making them susceptible to various chronic diseases. Indeed, their deteriorating health makes them prone to illnesses and requires better care.
However, depending upon the health condition, they may require support from other people. Sometimes this support might be in the form of constant care and keeping them emotionally stable. Undoubtedly, providing care to older adults is a whole different task than taking care of young adults as they require assistance even for small body movements. Perhaps, it can be even more stressful for those with a hectic routine since many geriatric patients don’t like to depend on others for their everyday tasks.
Undoubtedly, everyone wants to treat their elderly loved ones with uttermost love, care, and patience. However, becoming familiar with some helpful tips to provide care to aging adults can be of great help. Below we are listing some tricks and tips which will help you in providing care to older adults:
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Coordinate With Professionals
Not everyone has a medical background, and with older adults, there may come a time where they need immediate medical assistance. Coordinating with professionals will ensure that you provide older people with appropriate service. If older adults are severely sick, it would be best to get professional help and guidance through a geriatric nurse practitioner. These nurses provide home health aide and care to elderly patients when required.
According to the report by the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, by 2030, approximately 70 million Americans will age 65 or older. Today, several people with the relevant education background prefer to earn MSN online degrees to become an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) due to its rising scope. An AGNP has relevant academic knowledge of nursing and is aware of different ways of giving medical help to older adults. Coordinating with AGNP for regular assistance will help you to provide quality care to your loved ones within their comfort zone.
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Keep Track Of Medication
Medical issues are increasing at an alarming rate. Today, most of the older population are advised to take regular medication for their wellbeing. Many senior citizens have to take multiple medicines daily at different times, making it difficult for them to follow prescriptions accurately. Since older people are more likely to forget about things easily, they may miss out on taking medicines. Hence, it is pertinent for you to fill and refill all their prescriptions as needed. You can also get a pillbox organizer with labeled compartments to make the medication-taking process easy for them. You can also set a reminder on their cell phones, or if you live far away, call and remind them by yourself.
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Declutter their Personal Space
Senior people generally do not need a plethora of things, and they can easily get by with some essentials. It would be in their health’s interest to remove all unnecessary household items and keep only important things. Several older people have blurry vision and need glasses to see clearly. You must make sure that they have their pair of glasses and other necessary items besides their beds. Installing a ramp for walkers or wheelchairs will make them independent. Remove clutter, especially towards the toilet, to prevent them from potential falls.
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Make Them Familiar with Latest Technology
The modern world runs on technology, and technology integration in homes has made many household tasks manageable. Older adults often like to stick to old-age methods and do not want to learn new ways. You can patiently tell them the benefits of using technology and help them to understand its usage. Teach them how to video call or to make FaceTime appointments with their healthcare expert. Furthermore, there are many entertainment avenues available online, which older people can learn for their amusement.
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Enable Social Inclusion
In many cases, older people depend on others to visit their friends and family. They may feel isolated in their homes and do not like to trouble others for social gatherings. Creating opportunities for social inclusion by taking them out somewhere or inviting their friends will lift their spirits. Sometimes, making older people meet their loved ones works well in making positive behavioral changes. On the other hand, isolation can harm their emotional and mental health, as today, many senior people suffer from loneliness. Taking care of your loved one’s social activities will positively impact their health and make them feel good about themselves.
Conclusion
Older adults often have to rely on others and require assistance in their day-to-day work. Apart from physical weakness, older people often get easily irritated and feel emotionally drained. Looking after them can be exhausting, mentally draining, and physically tiring. Taking care of the few aspects mentioned above would help you in providing them with the best possible care.