It is not nice to consider family members getting older or reaching the point where they can’t do the things they once did or loved to do. Sadly, aging is part and parcel of life, and understanding the best ways to support your loved ones as they transition through this stage of their lives cannot only offer them a great deal of support but also facilitate a deeper relationship and understanding.
What can you do to support your loved ones who need extra care and attention?
Talk to Them
Open and honest communication is key. Start by talking to your loved ones about their wants and needs. Understanding their feelings and thought patterns will help you create a plan that meets their needs without overstepping. This approach will reassure you that you’re on the right track and give you the confidence to support them effectively.
When discussing care needs, it’s crucial to approach the conversation with patience and understanding. Your loved one may not fully realize the extent of their needs or struggle to express them. Avoid heated emotions and raised voices and instead foster a calm, respectful environment for open discussion. Remember, it’s not about dictating but about understanding and meeting their needs. This empathetic approach will make your loved ones feel heard and respected.
Identify Services to Help
To assist your loved one in remaining in their home for as long as possible, you can look into support services that can work with them to retain their independence and help them live as they want and need to. It might be you hire cleaning services to come in and take care of chores. You use meal delivery services to deliver prepared meals that can be heated easily and are healthy and nutritious. Or you might find care services more suitable to help out doing different things. You can hire someone to provide the care, or if you are already taking on this role, you can look into getting paid to take care of family members to see if you qualify for getting paid to do what you’re already doing or would pay someone else to do.
Home Adaptations
You might find that making changes to the family home, be it to move things around or make certain areas of the property more accessible, i.e., removing steps and adding ramps or widening door frames for walkers or wheelchairs, could be what you need to do. Your loved ones’ exact circumstances and health requirements will direct you to the right adaptations you need to make, whether you need to make substantial changes or just add in a few tools to help, i.e., handrails or stairlifts, but these can improve the quality of life drastically.
Technology
Technology can offer you and your loved ones peace of mind during this time. You can install indoor video cameras to help monitor activities or use screens to communicate and help out when you can’t be there physically. You can have them wear smartwatches to help track their health, use the digital display to show alerts or medication reminders, and use smart home control to assist with heating, cooling, and security. For example, biometric door locks can be valuable for people who forget their keys, can’t use keys, or are prone to leaving their home unlocked, and video doorbells can alert you to activity around the door area to add peace of mind.