When living with an elderly at home, a person’s lifestyle can change dramatically. They may need help with basic needs such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. In addition, the elderly may need help with meals, as they may not be able to cook or grocery shop on their own. They may also need help with taking medication or managing finances. Finally, the elderly may need someone to talk to and provide companionship. All of these changes can impact a person’s lifestyle significantly.
Preparing for these lifestyle changes is crucial if you live with an elder at home. Fortunately, you can make significant adjustments to make your actions and efforts more manageable, especially when you are busy with other responsibilities at home and work. Here are the projects to pursue when you live with an elderly at home.
Senior-Friendly Home Adjustment
Making your home senior-friendly can help make the lives of both you and your elderly loved one easier. Senior citizens might have fragile bodies. As a result, they cannot carry themselves up the stairs or perform household chores. An accidental trip might even be fatal for them. As a result, the home becomes a hazardous environment. Fortunately, you can find many adjustments that will turn the home senior-friendly, such as these:
- Install grab bars in the bathroom
- Add nonslip surfaces to the bathtub and shower
- Remove sharp edges from furniture and countertops
- Place rugs with a non-skid backing in critical areas of the home
- Store medications in an easily accessible location
- Make sure all electrical cables and cords are out of reach
- Hang a calendar and post essential phone numbers in a visible spot
- Place a lamp within arm’s reach of the bed
- Reduce clutter to prevent trip hazards
- Keep a clutter-free path from the bed to the bathroom
These adjustments are necessary if you want to make elderly care easier. However, you might have to do it one step at a time if it involves paying for professional services. Your budget might suffer when you perform them simultaneously.
Senior Supervision Family Rotation
When elderly members live at home, family members need to be responsible for their supervision. It means one family member needs to be home with the elderly. There are many benefits to this arrangement, but the most important is that older people are less likely to experience accidents or falls without an immediate response.
This arrangement can be challenging to maintain, especially if there is more than one older person in the home. In addition, it can be challenging to find family members who are willing and able to take on this responsibility. One solution is to create a rotation schedule. Each family member takes turns responsible for the older adult’s care. This arrangement can be challenging to coordinate, but it can be easier than finding a single family member who can take on full-time responsibility.
Another solution is to hire professional in-home care services. This option can be expensive, but it can provide peace of mind for both the family and the senior citizen.
Tailor-Suited Terminal Illness Plan
As people age, the probability of developing long-term or terminal illnesses increases. Some of these illnesses can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes, while others may require more intensive treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It is vital to identify these illnesses as early as possible so that you can put a treatment plan into place.
Developing a terminal illness plan requires many steps. First, decide what type of treatment you want the senior citizen to receive. You also need to consider the side effects of the treatment and how it will impact the elder’s quality of life. In addition, you need to think about the financial costs of the treatment. Finally, you need to consider your own emotional needs and how you will cope with the stress and pressure of caring for a terminally ill loved one.
Developing a terminal illness plan can be a complex and emotional process. However, it is vital to have a plan in place so that you can make the best decisions for your loved one’s care.
Think about the Future
When caring for a terminally ill elderly loved one, it is essential to think about the future. What will happen if the elder becomes sick or injured and can no longer live independently? What will happen if you can no longer care for the elder? These are difficult questions to think about, but it is crucial to have a plan to stay prepared for anything.
One option is to have alternative housing solutions like nearby residential care homes. These homes can provide the elder with the care they need while still allowing them to live independently. You can visit them once in a while, ensuring that they can still feel your love.
You can do several things to make caring for an elderly loved one at home more manageable. You may need to adjust your home and lifestyle to accommodate their needs, but it is worth it. Taking these steps will help ensure that they remain safe and healthy while in your care.
