Many seniors are opting to age in place. In addition to using technological gadgets such as alarms, seniors also have the benefit of working with professional caregivers to complete everyday tasks. As a family, it’s best to begin discussing long-term care options early. Here are a few tips to create a comprehensive action plan for a senior loved one’s long-term care.
Determine Your Loved One’s Care Needs
One of the first things you need to do is assess your loved one’s current needs. This is because addressing them now prevents greater challenges in the future. For instance, helping your loved one find assistance with meal preparation could prevent malnutrition that leads to long-term health issues. Getting your loved one used to spending time with a caregiver now could also make it an easier transition when he or she needs a higher level of care.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care service. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Anticipate Future Challenges
No one knows for sure what the future may hold, but seniors often have a few clues provided by their current state of health. Most seniors can expect to experience mobility issues and memory lapses as they advance in age. If your loved one has been diagnosed with a health condition, it may help to find out what his or her prognosis is for the coming years. For instance, seniors with Alzheimer’s can expect their memory to continue to decrease until they need help remembering essential tasks, such as how to take their medication.
Focus on Safety
Many health conditions begin with accidents. Fall-related injuries can rob your loved one of the ability to move freely around the home, and medication mistakes could lead to brain damage or heart conditions. Help your loved one have the best chances for a bright future by making safety a priority today. Arranging for someone to help your loved one get into the bathtub or manage his or her medication schedule enables your loved one to prevent accidents that impact his or her future.
Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional home care Columbia seniors can trust and rely on.
Address Emotional Health
Families often spend so much time focusing on their loved ones’ physical needs that it’s easy to overlook the emotional aspects of aging. Talk to your loved one about who he or she can socialize with during the day, especially if he or she doesn’t have a spouse at home. Ideally, your loved one should have someone stop by at least a few times a week. For this reason, companionship services are an important part of senior care you may need to include in your plans.
Transition Your Loved One to Receiving Care
Seniors are sometimes resistant to having home care because they’re afraid of losing their independence. They may also be nervous about spending time with someone they don’t know well. Help your loved one overcome both of these hurdles by slowly transitioning him or her to a long-term home care plan. Arrange for an initial short visit with a caregiver when you can stick close by, and over time, slowly lengthen the time your loved one spends with the new caregiver.
For many seniors in Columbia, home care is an essential component of aging in place safely and comfortably. However, it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we extensively screen all of our caregivers and only hire those who have experience in the senior home care industry. Our strict requirements ensure seniors can remain in the comfort of home with a reduced risk of injury or serious illness. Call one of our friendly Care Managers today to schedule a free consultation.
