An elderly person's caregiver is usually a family member they trust. These people offer a variety of services to aid the elderly in their daily activities. The most common areas of assistance include adaptations to the home, medication management and transportation. You can read on to learn how to choose the right caregiver for you loved one. Here are some suggestions:
Your home can be adaptable
There are many different ways to adapt your home for seniors living at home. A visit to an occupational therapist can help you decide what needs to change in your home, and identify how much money is available to finance the work. Hand rails and ramps are great for people with mobility issues, and outdoor lights are helpful at night. You should make sure that they don't disturb neighbors.
Medication management
Medication management for the elderly living at home requires more attention than ever. The reason older adults are sometimes unable or unwilling to remember which medication to take is that they might take multiple medications at once, forgetting to take them all. This confusion can lead patients to miss doses or stop taking their medication altogether. Seniors might take several medications for different conditions. Although most people are well aware of the dangers of double dosages of common medications, older people forget to take them at least twice daily.
Transportation
Transporting elderly residents at home can be challenging. Often, family caregivers cannot leave their jobs every day to help a loved one get to and from appointments. Alternative transportation options exist to ease the burden on caregivers, and keep elderly people connected. There are many transportation options available, and each region offers different options. However, there are often special transit options and discounts. Here are some tips on how to find alternative transportation for elderly citizens living at their home.
Meals
Meals are provided for elderly people living at home at no cost or at a sliding scale. Seniors are not allowed to refuse meals due to lack of funds. However, they may be asked if they would like to contribute. Currently, there is a high demand for these services in many areas of the country, which often results in long wait lists and even turned away seniors. You can make a difference and avoid becoming another statistic.
Activities
Many activities are available for seniors living at home. Many of them are also great for physical activity. Making a cake, making cookies or even making bread can require hand dexterity and are social activities. Making popcorn, coloring Easter eggs or fresh garden salads are some other ideas. These activities can be very satisfying and fun for the elderly. Many people may not enjoy being alone or around others.