How to Care for The Elderly at Home

Share

Grandparents, parents, in-laws or uncles may need our care when they reach a certain age. Although some families choose to take their relatives to specialized care centers or hire someone to assist them, others decide to keep them in the home and give them the attention they deserve. Learn in this article several tips on how to care for the elderly at home.

Being in the care of a person in the elderly can be very rewarding and at the same time exhausting, especially if you do not have the ability to mobilize on your own or suffer from a neurodegenerative disease.

Keys to caring for the elderly at home

Thanks to the following advice, taking care of elderly relatives at home will not become a burden or something frustrating.

That only one does not carry all the homework

Perhaps the women of the house (daughters, daughters-in-law, nieces) are in charge of caring for the elderly, for reasons of filiation but, also, by social conceptions. It is good that all those who live in the same house are responsible for the tasks involved in the care of that person.

One can not do everything, especially if the father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, uncle or aunt is sick, can not get out of bed, must follow a specific diet , etc. If you find yourself taking care of an older person and feel that you are overloaded with tasks, ask for help from others. Always with respect and in a good way.

Kitchen grandmother

Do not feel guilty

Many children or nephews choose to leave relatives in a specialized home in the elderly and feel very guilty about it. In other cases, not being able to meet the family member's expectations produces similar sensations. It is good to keep in mind that one is doing the best that he can, that the decision made has to do with several factors and has been analyzed, that we can not always do everything perfectly, etc.

To avoid these feelings you can, for example, hire an assistant to take care of the person during the night or the hours when we are not at home. In this way, the elder remains in the home and is being cared for by someone who has experience. And if you do not have the money for it and the decision is to take care of everyone, do not feel guilty if something does not go well.

To be organized

This is the key not only to care for the elderly, but for life in general. In this particular case, it is good to plan ahead and be ordered. For example, do not make mistakes with medication, always have emergency or medical telephones on hand, notify neighbors and relatives if help is needed, do not run out of medicines or diapers, perform the procedures in the clinic or hospital in advance, know correctly the schedules of taking pills and even place alarms to not let it go when busy with something else.

It is good for older people to follow a bath routine , meals, walks, etc. and the day-to-day will be easier for the caregiver.

Learning about the care of the elderly

There are several courses or support groups for family members of sick or elderly people who stay at home. It can be a perfect place to learn about the most important thing to consider and even to let off steam with people who are in the same situation as you.

Do not hesitate to read as much as you can about it , consult with those who know, as much as possible, hire someone and learn some of their techniques to apply later in the elderly, etc.

Take some time for yourself

You can not spend all day taking care of your parents, in-laws, uncles or grandparents. This does not mean that you are a bad person or someone selfish, but also that you need to satisfy your social, recreational, playful needs, etc.

Take one or two hours each day to do what you like most , as much as possible outside the home and not in the company of the elderly person you care for. If you do not have anyone else to help you, hire someone to stay a few hours in the house and you can do what you want.

Sleep well

If you are tired, it is more difficult for you to be able to assist someone who is elderly and, in many cases, sick. Therefore, sleep enough according to your organism request. The lack of sleep will diminish your ability to concentrate, to solve problems, to be attentive to the needs of the family, to remember important things, etc. It is said that 8 hours per night is ideal, although 7 is also a good amount.

If you have the opportunity, take a nap . Try to rest when the old man does too. If you have had children, think about the time they were babies. It's something similar now. If you can hire a person to help you, take the opportunity to sleep when you are at home.

Learn to say no

You will surely have many responsibilities and activities that you will not be able to attend or fulfill. Do not overload things or reduce the time you take care of those issues. If you are dedicating your time to take care of your parents, you will not have many free hours, therefore, do not commit yourself with things that later you will not be able to fulfill. Remember that you can not do everything and that the day only has 24 hours.