Getting old happens to most people, and where we are all individuals, some cope and carry on very well, whereas others don’t. There are health problems, illnesses, and the body losing control of its functions for many or just plain giving up with age.
However, in most cases, it takes a while for things to get bad, and good times with good health should be taken full advantage of while you can. It’s, therefore, important that good times are embraced and made to last, taking your elderly relative on days out so they can enjoy the fresh air and all the life around them. Creating new memories and capturing them in photos so your relative will have them by their side so they can relive or have prompts for their memories.
When the time comes that they will need more supervision or support from a nursing home, whether it’s just a daycare or as a permanent resident, you choose one that will provide them with all the care and facilities they will need, as well as staff who have undergone the appropriate aged care courses to give them the knowledge and skills they need to deliver quality care. Be sure to choose somewhere you and other family members can get to easily so that there will be plenty of visitors with new and stimulating conversations. Also, make sure that you understand what to expect from a care worker or even how to prepare yourself if the need arises for you to step in for their care.
Outings – accessibility
It’s very important to remember where you are going and what the terrain will be like. Even if your elderly relative is quite spritely on their feet, it’s still better to gauge on the side of caution rather than just thinking they will be fine.
With most websites for visiting locations listing whether or not their facility is wheelchair friendly or whether or not it’s easily accessible within certain weather conditions, it makes planning your time out with your elderly relative a lot easier and more relaxing for the whole party.
It’s a good idea though to keep in mind that there will, indeed, need to be comfort facilities and preferably tea rooms or cafes, so that your party will have somewhere comfortable to sit and relax while drinking beverages and snacking. Make sure to plan your journey because an elderly relative will probably require more breaks and comfort stops than the rest of your party, and take coats or jackets with blankets as they may well feel the cold, too.
Nursing homes – Obtaining the correct level of care
Not everyone can stay within their family home when they get older. Some people require much more care or increasing care as time passes. This is when it’s a good idea to introduce the idea of a good quality and caring nursing home to your elderly relative.
Trips and falls are unfortunately commonplace amongst the elderly who live at home alone and have nobody checking on them regularly. It isn’t uncommon that if they do fall, they are found hours or even days later. This is a very sad scenario, but by supporting them and placing them in a caring nursing home with respite care for seniors, you are ensuring that your loved one is kept safe and well with constant supervision and company. Nursing homes are well-equipped and experienced to deal with residents who are suffering from Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Good quality nursing homes also offer adult daycare facilities that can help if you are looking after your elderly relative in your own home and feel that you would like to have some time. This is very important for your health and well-being, as when you are a full-time carer within your home, there is no escape and no time off. It can become emotionally and physically draining.
Keeping the connection going
Once you have your elderly relative safely relocated to their new home within a nursing home, it is important that you take time to be involved and visit them. Just because they have company 24 hours a day from carers, it does not mean that they will not need to see you regularly, even if they are suffering from memory loss due to Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Having a connection and a visit from the outside world can mean a great deal to residents within a nursing home environment and even more so if your elderly relative still lives on their own or even with their partner. A conversation change or a different face with family news can bring fresh air and interest into their lives.
