The Beauty of Giving Seniors Choice
Imagine for a moment, that for the rest of the day, you aren’t allowed to make a single decision. You don’t get to choose what you have for lunch or dinner. You don’t get to choose when you shower or what hobbies you pursue. You would really like to catch up with your family, but they’re too busy running errands for you because they took your car keys away a month ago and you rely on them to pick up your essentials. You would really like to indulge in a piece of chocolate. However, now that your daughter is buying groceries and your doctor told you to stay away from sweets, she won’t pick up even a sugar-free option to satiate your sweet tooth. You begin to retreat because you feel isolated, alone, and on the verge of depression. When did you go from being independent to not having a say in your daily routine? Is this how you envisioned your senior years to look like?
Unfortunately, the scenario above describes how many seniors who need help at home feel about their daily lives. Whether they receive assistance from family members or professional caregivers, offering seniors a choice is something this is often overlooked. It’s often easier to orient the day around a caregiver’s schedule, especially if the caregiver is a family member, than it is to create a routine that keeps the senior at the center. As the caregiver becomes more familiar with the preferences of the senior, they can easily forget to offer choices.
Yet, giving seniors choice is very important. Choice keeps the senior at the center of each care task. Choice acknowledges that needs and desire change. Choice gives seniors a voice and acknowledges their individuality. Seniors who are given more choice feel more in control of their daily routine and are less likely to withdraw. If you are a caregiver to a senior, you have the ability to preserve their dignity by offering them choice. Here are four tips to help you incorporate more choice in their daily routines.
Choice in Time
The biggest way to empower seniors is to give them choice in time. As much as possible, allow the senior to choose how their day looks. Ask when they would like help getting ready for the day, when they would like to eat their meals, and what time works best for them when scheduling appointments. While there are some circumstances in which a senior’s preferred time might now always work, it’s important to continue to offer choice. If a family caregiver needs to reschedule, then they need to offer other times that work for them and let the senior pick.
Choice in Clothing
Another important way to offer choice is to allow the senior to select their outfit. This may seem obvious, but many caregivers easily overlook this simple choice. Seniors living with memory loss can become overwhelmed when asked to pick something from their entire wardrobe. In this case, it’s best to pick two appropriate outfits and let them choose their preference.
Choice in Meals
Meals are another opportunity to offer seniors choice. Before preparing a meal or buying groceries, sit down with the senior and create menu together. Keep the pantry stocked with easy-to-make meals, such as ingredients for sandwiches, fresh produce, and soup, so that there’s aways another option for them. Even if you’re familiar with their favorite dishes, continue to give them choice in meals. They might surprise you and want to try something new.
Choice in Activities
Finally, give seniors choice in their everyday activities. While it’s important to encourage socialization, physical movement, and other engaging activities, forcing someone to do something they prefer not to do only leads to a disappointing experience for all involved. Instead of forcing an activity, give the choice between two similar activities that accomplish the same goal. For example, ask if they would like to go for a walk or ride the stationary bike today in order to encourage exercise.
Visiting Angels Punta Gorda understands the beauty of giving seniors choice. We recognize that each of our clients have unique needs and routines, which is why we create a personalized plan of care for each client. We won’t ask you to accommodate the schedule of our caregivers. Instead, we work hard to accommodate your routine, so that you are supported when you need assistance. We strive to help seniors experience the joy of aging in place by giving them the assistance they need, when they prefer. TO learn more about our outstanding senior home care services, please contact us today by calling 941-347-8288 Charlotte County or 239-226-1620 Lee County.
Visiting Angels of Punta Gorda, FL
941-347-8288