Tips for Caring for a Senior Loved One

As our loved ones age, it is normal for us to want to care for them. While it is a rewarding task, and one that allows you to give back to those you love, it also can be daunting. You want to ensure you are offering the best possible care to those you love. Some tips for caring for a senior loved one include:

Create a Safe Environment

Whether your loved one will be in their own home or coming to yours, you want to ensure you create a safe environment for them. As they age, they are more prone to becoming unbalanced, falling, and tripping. It is necessary to create a hazard-free environment so they can move about safely. If they are unsteady, you may also want to install a bar to hang onto in the shower or bath, and get other necessary equipment to make them feel the most comfortable. Many of our seniors need an extra helping hand. If you are not always able to be there, hiring a home care worker, even for a couple of hours a week, can help ensure their safety. Home care workers can offer special fall prevention services, and other services to help keep your senior loved one safe.

Allow Some Independence

Our aging loved ones are used to doing everything for themselves, so when it comes to caring for them they can get a little frustrated when they constantly need help. Build independence into their schedules. Allow them to make the decisions they are capable of making. Perhaps they can’t drive anymore, but they can choose whether they want to come along to the store and which store they want to shop at. They can make their own grocery list, and decide what they would like to eat. When it comes to cooking, there are special utensils you can purchase with larger handles that are easier to maneuver if they want to help prepare meals. Items such as those will give them more control and involvement in their own lives.

Keep Up the Connections

Even if your senior loved one is moving in with you, keep up their social connections. Ensure they still talk to other family members and their friends. They need to know they are thought about, and a part of a larger social circle. Introduce more technology into their lives, such as video calling, so they can see and talk to relatives that are far away. Volunteer to bring them to the book club they always love going to, or to their weekly meetings at church. It is important for them to continue their social connections as long as possible. It is important that they don’t lose their connections, and start feeling lonely or isolated.

Don’t Be Scared to Ask for Help

Caring for your loved one can be rewarding, but also tiring, It is easy to get worn out. It is easy to get frustrated. It is easy to feel overwhelmed. When you need help or you need a break, it is important to ask for help. You don’t want to get burnt out, and you don’t want your relationship with your loved one to suffer. Often, there are relatives or friends who would love to take a shift, and help you out so you can run to the store or take a nap. If you need more consistent help, Home care workers can be a blessing. They can help with everything from respite care - which means giving you a break to do what you need to do, to helping to bathe your loved one.

There might be tasks you don’t feel qualified to do or are uncomfortable doing. Trained Home Care workers can help with those. Don’t hesitate to ask for help on your journey.

Making a Decision

As you evaluate what is best for your loved one, our professionals at Visiting Angels of Bloomington can help you sort out the differences in care options. If you are searching for care for your loved one in South Central Indiana, our expert team can help you make the right choice. If it is Home Care that you choose, our compassionate and professional caregivers can assist with all of your nonmedical tests. Our caregivers serve clients in Brown, Bartholomew, Johnson, Monroe, Shelby, and Rush Counties, including in Bloomington, Columbus, and Nashville. To learn more, call our offices at (812) 940-4105, or complete this form online.