What are the most effective ways to care for the elderly and prevent stress?
Below are some dos and don’ts to make your job as a primary caregiver simpler:
Dos
Plan Conversations Beforehand
If you plan to take your elderly loved one to a care home, you have to properly discuss it with them. Decisions of this nature can significantly affect their well-being. They may be angry, anxious, and saddened by not being in their familiar surroundings. So ensure that you strategize your approach in light of these issues.
Show Empathy And Compassion In Your Actions And Speech
Loss of independence can be very challenging for elderly individuals. It can have a huge impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing. Thus, you need to exhibit compassion. This can be difficult at times. But little things like giving them listening ears, exercising patience, offering to help before they even request it, and showing empathy can make all the difference.
Ensure You Take A Break
Caregiver burnout is real. It is common for people to feel mentally exhausted when they commit every day to caring for their elderly loved ones. It can cause stress, anxiety, depression, and sleeping difficulties. So to prevent this, ensure you devote time to unwind and sleep.
Gently Motivate Them
Understand the right time to motivate your elderly loved ones to explore new experiences and unwind. Also, know when to stay quiet and let them have fun in their way.
Hire A Domiciliary Caregiver
You can hire additional support to assist with the daily household activities of your elderly loved ones. This is why you need domiciliary care professionals. Their role revolves around helping people live independently in the comfort of their homes. This can either be through regular visits or live-in care.
For instance, a domiciliary carer can help with the following:
- Administering medication
- Meal preparation
- Assisting with personal care and grooming such as bathing, washing, mouth and skin care, and hairdressing.
- Installation of equipment to make the home more accessible.
- Accompanying the elderly or clients to clinical appointments and medical trips.
- Conversing and interacting with loved ones and offering updates.
- Carrying out errands like grocery shopping.
- Taking care of basic household tasks like laundry, gardening, etc.
Don’ts
Don’t Be Annoyed When They Don’t Remember Things
Cognitive decline is a common symptom of many illnesses affecting the elderly. If they don’t remember what you have said to them multiple times, do not be annoyed or dissatisfied. Even if they get confused over their dates, names, people's faces, or even places where they kept items, try not to be frustrated.
Don’t Skip The Trip To The Doctor
Even if your elderly loved one has exhibited signs of recovery, don’t believe they are fully cured and skip medical appointments. Cognitive disorders can wax and wane. Symptoms may diminish and also get severe. Ensure you pay attention to your elderly loved ones, particularly if they have a dual diagnosis or coexisting condition.
Don't Presume You Understand What To Search For
When taking care of your elderly loved ones, you have to understand the most overlooked symptoms that signal a mental health disorder, like lethargy, altered eating habits, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, insomnia, disorientation, anxiety, unexplained weight loss, and the struggle to make straightforward decisions.
Don’t Assume That Depression Is A Natural Part Of Ageing For The Elderly
You might have read somewhere that as we grow older, we get depressed. This is false. Your elderly loved one should be empowered to enjoy a fulfilling and happy moment. While getting angry or sad now and then is normal, being depressed all the time isn't.
Don’t Presume They Are Taking Their Drugs At The Right Dose
The truth is that a lot of drugs may have a similar appearance or name. A solution to this is for you to use a pill dispenser box to deliver the correct dosage of drugs. Also, put on paper detailed instructions or even get a medicine reminder app or alarm to remind them to take their drugs when due.
*Collaborative post
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