Trusted family members make the ideal caregivers for elderly persons at home. They provide many services to help the elderly with daily activities. The most common areas of assistance include adaptations to the home, medication management and transportation. Find out how to find the best caregiver for your loved. Here are some suggestions:
Adapting your home
There are many options available to make your home more accessible for elderly people. 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, ramps, and outdoor lighting are excellent for people with mobility impairments. Install them so they don't cause disturbance to neighbours.
Management of medication
Seniors living at home need more care in managing their medication. Because older adults are often unable to remember which medications to take, they may take multiple medications at once and forget to fill them. This confusion can lead patients to miss doses or stop taking their medication altogether. Seniors may be prescribed multiple medications to treat different ailments. While most of us are familiar with the dangers of a double dose of a common medication, elderly people often forget that they should take it at least twice daily.
Transport
Caring for the elderly at home is a demanding job. Family caregivers often have to leave their jobs to transport loved ones to 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 suggestions for how to find and use alternative transportation for the elderly living at home.
Meals
Meals for elderly persons living at their homes are free of charge or subject to a sliding fee. No senior will be turned down for lack of funds. Seniors may, however, be asked to contribute to the meal's cost. These services are in high demand in many parts of the country. This often leads to long wait lists and sometimes even turning away seniors. You can make a difference and avoid becoming another statistic.
Activities
There are many types of activities for the elderly living at home. Many of them double as activities. Making cookies, bread, and cakes can all require hand dexterity. Another option is to make popcorn, colour Easter eggs and make fresh garden vegetables. These activities can be very satisfying and fun for the elderly. However, there are some who don't like being with other people or being alone.