Ways to Help Your Senior Loved One Maintain Their Independence
February is National Senior Independence Month. In honor of that, it is a great time to talk with your senior loved one, and come up with a plan to help them maintain their independence for as long as they would like and for as long as it is safe for them. A recent study showed that most older adults want to age in their own homes as long as possible. The study from AARP showed that nearly 90 percent of those aged 65 and older want to grow older in their current homes. It can get tricky, especially as our favorite seniors start to decline physically and or mentally. However, there are some things you can do to help prepare for that and to help them maintain their independence. Here are some suggestions.
Have a Network of People to Help
Whether it is you and your siblings, friends, other relatives, or even hired caregivers, having a network of people who can help your favorite senior is essential. Even if your seniors can manage most things on their own now, having people around to help keep them from getting lonely is a must. It is important that they have someone nearby they trust that they can call if they need help or have an emergency. It also is important to have people see them face-to-face on a regular schedule, so they can see how your senior loved ones are doing.
Just because you and your senior loved one are considering hiring an in-home caregiver, doesn’t mean they are giving up their independence. In fact, caregivers can help your senior loved ones maintain their independence, and live in their current homes, for even longer. They are an extra set of hands and eyes to help when you can’t be there. Caregivers, such as those from Visiting Angels Cape Coral, can home into the home for as much or as little as your senior loved one needs. Caregivers can help them get dressed in the morning, and prepare a light breakfast as they begin their day. They can help them clean up and do light housekeeping. They can provide companionship. They can even help seniors get online or facetime family members so they can stay in touch. In addition, they can provide more intense or specialized services, such as fall prevention, dementia care and respite care.
Prepare the Home
If your senior is choosing to age in place, it is important to ensure that place is safe for them. Take time to go through their home with them. See what might pose a tripping hazard or a safety issue. Ensure they have enough lighting in the home so they can see any potential risks. Are they used to standing on a chair to get their favorite bundt cake pan down each time they bake? Help them move some of their most used items to within their reach, so they don’t take any unnecessary risks.
It might be time for some upgrades for your seniors. Ask them what they have difficulty doing. Do they have trouble reaching the light switch on their table lamp? If so, consider a lamp that turns on with a simple touch, or even a device such as the clapper, which will turn on lights with the clap of a hand. There even is lighting that can sense when your senior walks into the room, and that will automatically turn on. Does your senior love to keep a clean home, but has trouble maneuvering their heavy vacuum? Look into getting a Roomba or other such robotic device that can clean the floors on its own with little effort from them.
Perhaps it's time to switch mom to a cordless phone that she can carry from room to room with her. Or, it might even be time to get rid of the landline all together, and just have her use her cell phone for everything. If so, make sure she has convenient chargers in every room, so her phone is always ready if she needs it. Look for things that will help make your senior’s life easier and safer, and work with them to implement them into the home.
Visiting Angels Cape Coral Can Help
If you are looking for someone to help your senior loved one maintain their independence, our caregivers at Visiting Angels. We serve seniors in Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and the surrounding areas. We provide a variety of home care services, including companion care, respite care, fall prevention services and a safe and steady program.
We will come to your home for a free visit to find out what needs you have, and develop a care plan tailored to your needs. Call us at (239) 226-1620 for more information, or find us online.
If you are interested in caring for senior clients in the community, visit us online to find out more about a career in home care.