Ways for Family Caregivers to Provide Better Home Care for Your Elderly Loved Ones
Whether you are caring for a parent, spouse, or any elderly loved one, your role as a family caregiver is both a labor of love and a significant responsibility. To fulfill such a crucial role, it is essential that you are equipped with the knowledge and support necessary to extend the best care possible. In this article, we discuss ways to provide better home care for a senior loved one, including keeping regular health check-ups for seniors, and what to do to keep a loved one physically and socially active if you do not have time, and more.
Help Seniors get Screenings and Check-ups Regularly
Regular screenings and checkups are essential to maintain our health and prevent potential complications. Screening helps to detect common chronic conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, as well as high-risk conditions such as colorectal cancer or breast cancers. If the senior has an existing chronic condition, follow-ups are crucial to prevent and mitigate the health and financial impact of exacerbations and complications.
Other important checkups for the elderly include dental, vision and bone density tests. Dental health contributes to better appetite, nutrition and thus overall health. Eye exams help to ensure seniors use the most appropriate eyewear and understand eye health. Bone density scans assess bone health to prevent fractures and osteoporosis, especially among women.
Encourage Seniors to Stay Active
If you find it challenging to stay active as the years go by, you are not alone. Age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, also known as sarcopenia, starts in our late 30’s and accelerates over time. Beyond the age of 60, it is estimated that one in three people is affected by sarcopenia, which compromises their muscle strength, function and mobility. Regular weight bearing endurance training is crucial and effective to prevent muscle loss.
Some seniors have chronic illnesses like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, or COPD, which impact their joints, bones, heart, or lungs, thereby limiting their level and range of physical activities. Acute episodes like hospitalization can further disrupt the ability to engage in regular exercise and exacerbate muscle loss. However, engaging in physical exercises is precisely what counters the effects of sarcopenia, inactivity, and their related consequences. Be sure to consult doctors for the right types of physical exercise and assist the seniors when they exercise, notably if they are new to exercises or recovering from injury, operation or treatment.
Maintain Healthy and Adequate Nutrition
Contrary to common belief, seniors need more protein and nutrition to address muscle loss and decreased metabolism, compared to their younger counterparts. Yet, as many as half of older adults do not meet the recommended protein intake for their age.
People aged 50 and above need about 1.5g of protein/day for each kilogram of their body weight. They may also need higher intake of calcium and vitamin D to counter the loss of bone density. Elderlies may also experience loss of appetite and malabsorption due to medication or hormonal changes, requiring supplementation of certain essential vitamins and nutrients.
Encourage a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy. Remind the elderly to stay adequately hydrated throughout the day, but do not drink too much liquid during mealtimes. Dehydration can cause or exacerbate health issues.
Use supplements as guided by your doctor as they can be helpful when specific dietary requirements are not met by food alone. Vitamin D and calcium supplements can aid in maintaining bone health, while omega-3 fatty acid supplements help with absorption of certain vitamins and nutrients.
Keep Their Company
Companionship, family and social connections contribute to senior’s cognitive stimulation, helping them combat feelings of loneliness and isolation and prevent mental decline.
As family caregivers, you can help schedule social time for your loved ones in multiple ways, without sacrificing too much time of your own. You might invite a relative or a friend to come over and share a meal or teatime with the senior; play a quick game; encourage attending active aging centers; and engage with a professional caregiver as they are skilled at keeping the company of their clients while performing many other caregiving tasks.
Equip Yourself with Health Knowledge and Caregiving Skills
Caregiving can be overwhelming. It requires not only understanding the specific conditions your loved one is facing but also mastering various caregiving techniques to provide proper care. Taking caregiver training courses can equip you with the relevant skills and knowledge including personal care techniques like how to properly and safely bathe, transfer, lift and carry.
Gain knowledge about specific conditions, e.g., how to recognize the warning signs of stroke or dementia; management of chronic diseases; and caregiver coping skills and well-being. Be sure to carry out self-care first so you have the mental and emotional capacity to take care of your loved ones.
Takeaway Message
Each facet of care aims to contribute to the overall well-being of our senior beloved, allowing them to age with dignity and grace. As we embrace these practices, we foster a more compassionate and supportive care experience at home. Outside of home, you and your loved ones can seek assistance from professional medical and caregiving services, as well as explore volunteer services in times of need. Together, these efforts create a comprehensive network of support, ensuring your family members get the care they deserve in their golden years.